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Panther head coach Jim Hall has high hopes as he enters
his 13th season at UNI. Named Midwest Championship Coach of
the Year in 1989, Hall has a 63-116-1 career record, all at
UNI, including a 4-9-1 record last year.
A graduate of Eastern Illinois in 1982, Hall held
records in the 800 freestyle relay and the 200 and 500 yard
freestyle. He was an All-American in six events and was
named to three all-conference and All-American teams.
The Panthers have broken every women's record under the
direction of Hall. Last year, seven more records fell - four
women's and three men's.
In addition to his coaching success, Hall is a frequent
competitor in the Masters division.
Jeff Noble looks to make a splash going into his
seventh year as the Panthers' head diving and assistant
swimming coach with the largest group of divers ever at UNI.
After graduating from Iowa State in 1988, Noble earned a
master's degree in recreation administration from Western
Illinois.
He began his coaching career at Urbandale High School
in Urbandale, IA, where he coached two state qualifiers. He
returned to Western Illinois and coached two school record-
holders, a conference record-holder, and a two-year NCAA
Zone qualifier.
Noble had a big year in 1994 - he was named the Diving
Coach of the Year at the Mid-East Championsips.
In the Fall of 1997, the University of Northern Iowa
will complete construction of its new Wellness and
Recreation Center, a multipurpose athletic facility.
Along with its new weight room, raquetball courts, and
numerous other additions, the Wellness/Recreation Center
will house an eight-lane, 25-meter by 25-yard competitive
pool, complete with one- and three-meter diving boards. The
facility will also feature an automatic timing system, flow-
through lane lines, and overhead spectator seating.
It all adds up to a state-of-the-art complex in which
the swimming and diving teams can train and host meets.
UNI coach Jim Hall feels that construction of the
Center has already had an impact on the success of the
program.
"The Wellness/Recreation Center has helped us bring in
better student-athletes. It'll be a great facility and will
help us do a lot of different things," he said.
Architect's renderings of the new competition pool (left) and wellness pool (right).
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Ask Northern Iowa head coach Jim Hall how he feels
about beginning his 13th year with the Panthers, and you'll
have a hard time getting a word in. He expects a very
exciting season from an experienced group of swimmers.
"We're a veteran team this year," he states. "We only
lost four seniors, and have brought in some quality kids.
Top to bottom, this could be the best team I've had at UNI."
Last season, the Panthers were competitive in most of
their meets, but just couldn't get it done when it counted.
This year, though, Hall expects things to change.
"We've got a well-balanced team with no real weak
spots. Last year we couldn't pull it out when we had to.
This year, our biggest asset will be our ability to move
people around and put them where we need them at the right
time," he said.
The seniors are expected to contribute immensely. These
include Ben Reinking, Ian Barnhouse, Blake Bextine, Pat
McDonald, Andy Mcelmeel, Mark Miller, Tina Purdy, Jenny
Folsom, Sara Murphy, and Andrea Brown.
"Our 10 seniors will be looked to for leadership when
we need it," Hall said.
Newcomers expected to make their presence known are
Nate Eisenhower, Jeff Summy, Matt Hamer, Jeff Norris, and
Brian Gay for the men. For the women, Sara Babler, Molly
Edwards, Erin Hughes, Angie Rittgers, and Rachel Nosbisch
should play an important role in the success of the team.
Diving coach Jeff Noble also has a veteran group to
work with. "We've got nine members on the team, two of whom
are freshmen," said Noble. "This is the largest team I've
had at this point."
Two people, Paul Stover and Folsom, should make an
impact right away.
"Paul is the defending men's 3-meter champion at the
Mid-East Regional. Jenny is the only senior for the women.
She'll be looked at for leadership. We've got solid depth
throughout the lineup.
"We'll just be looking for improvement, especially more
consistency," added Noble.
After having several meets cancelled this season due to the weather, the Panther Swimming and Diving Teams concluded their season in record-setting fashion. All in all, 12 school records, six meet records, and five pool records were set.
UNI Swimmer Qualifies for NCAA Division I NationalsJacob Stall, a sophomore from Bettendorf, Iowa became the first UNI swimmer to make the NCAA qualifying time standards. Jacob was not even a state high school meet qualifier as a high school prep, but now finds himself as one of the top sprinters in the country. Jacob also made his Senior National time cuts and will be competing in August 1996 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
(Meet by meet results from this past season will hopefully be available by this fall right here. Check back then.)
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10/26/96 3rd annual Panthers Co-ed Relays 1:00pm Home
11/2/96 Western Illinois 1:00pm Macomb, IL
11/8,9/96 Eastern Illinois Invite 6:00pm Charleston, IL
11/22/96 Bradley 4:00pm Peoria, IL
11/23/96 St. Louis University 10:00am St. Louis, MO
12/6-8/96 MVC Championships 6:00pm Carbondale, IL
BREAK CSCAA Swim Forum Ft. Lauderdale, Fl
1/17,18/97 Bradley Invitational 6:00pm Peoria, IL
1/24/97 NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS 6:00pm HOME
1/25/97 Northern Illinois 1:00pm Dekalb, IL
1/31/97 IOWA STATE 4:00pm HOME
2/1/97 Univ. of Wisconsin at Milwaukee 1:00pm Milwaukee, WI
2/8/97 BRADLEY/SPRINT DUAL 12:00pm HOME
2/20-22/97 Mid-East Championships TBA St. Peters, MO
3/14,15/97 NCAA Zone D Diving Championships TBA TBA
3/20-22/97 Women's NCAA Championships TBA Indianapolis, IN
3/27-29/97 Men's NCAA Championships TBA Minneapolis, MN
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(C) denotes captain
* denotes letters won
Andrea Brown
A senior captain, Brown competes in the breaststroke and 200 IM. A graduate of Des Moines East High School, she qualified for state four times and earned academic all-conference and all-state honors. She earned a Panther academic award in addition to her three collegiate letters. She is majoring in Elementary Education.
Melissa Fey
A sophomore from Freeport, IL, Fey has earned two letters competing in freestyle and distance events. While at Freeport High School, she was a four-year all-conference selection and honor roll student. A Public Heath major with a Psychology minor, Fey's chief ambition is to finish graduate school.
Jen Folsom
A senior diver, Folsom has earned three letters at UNI in one- and three-meter events. A three-time record-holder at West Des Moines Dowling High School, she won the conference championship her senior year, was district runner-up and qualified for state. An elementary education major, her chief ambition is to help children become the best they can be.
Kelly Heidner
A junior out of Waukesha, WI, Heidner graduated from North High School where she finished sixth in the state diving championship in 1992. She earned seven letters in high school -- three in diving and four in track -- in addition to the two diving letters she's earned at UNI. A Speech Pathology major, she is also a member of the Golden Key Honor Society.
Sara Murphy
A senior captain, Murphy has earned three letters in the backstroke. As a team captain at Ankeny High School, she qualified for the state championship her senior year and earned academic all-state honors. An Elementary Education major, Murphy's chief ambition is to graduate and get a teaching job.
Tina Purdy
A senior captain, Purdy is a three-time letterwinner from Marshall, MO. She is part of the record-holding 200 freestyle realay team and is expected to compete in freestyle events this season. She is majoring in Leisure Studies with an emphasis in Fitness and Youth Agency Administration.
Natalie Reinking
A junior from Marshalltown, IA, Tomhave is expected to compete in freestyle and breaststroke events. She earned 12 letters at Marshalltown High School in track, basketball, and swimming, as well as two swimming letters at UNI. A physical education major, her chief ambition is to succeed in teaching and coaching.
Ian Barnhouse
A senior captain from Iowa City, IA, Barnhouse was a three-year letterwinner and two-time state qualifier for West High School. An Art major, he has earned three letters at UNI and is expected to compete in the breaststroke this season. Barnhouse is intent on breaking the 100 and 200 breaststroke records.
Blake Bextine
A senior captain from Bedford, TX, Bextine has lettered three times at UNI. He is expected to compete in the 400 IM and 200 butterfly this season. While in high school, he earned four letters and was named to the all-state first team in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. He is a Biology major.
Pat Bonuso
A junior from Arlington Heights, IL, Bonuso was named captain and MVP of the Buffalo Grove High School Swim Team. He also qualified for state and earned four letters. Nicknamed "Chia," Bonuso is a two-time letterwinner at UNI and also anchored the record-holding 200 freestyle relay team. He is a Computer Science major.
Eric Hoak
A junior from Sioux City, IA, Hoak earned four letters, two MVP honors, all-state honorable mention, and three school records at North High School. Since then, he's had quite an impact with the Panthers -- he currently holds school records in the 50 freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke, and was a member of the record-setting 200 freestyle relay team. Hoak is majoring in business management.
Pat McDonald
A senior from Albia, IA, McDonald earned 10 letters in track, cross-country, and swimming at Albia high school. A three-time state qualifier, he has since earned three letters with the Panthers, as well as the Panther Academic Award and the Coach's Award. McDonald is a Physical Education major whose chief ambition is to coach in the Olympics.
Andy McElmeel
A senior from Rockford, IL, McElmeel was a two-year MVP and lettered four times at Jefferson High School. He's a returning letterwinner who also earned academic honors last seasonl An Accounting major, McElmeel would like to break 1:50.00 in the 200 freestyle.
Mark Miller
A senior from Mason City, IA, Miller is expected to swim distance events for the Panthers this season. He qualified for state three years and his team won the state title in the '91 - '92 season. Nicknamed "Shake," Miller has earned two letters at UNI. He's an Art Design major.
Ben Reinking
A senior captain from Sioux City, IA, Reinking has earned letters the past three years and was named MVP last season. While a prep at East High School, he was named to the all-state team his junior year and the academic all-state team as a senior. A four-year MVP, he also qualified for state three times. Reinking is majoring in Biology/Pre-med and his chief ambition is to go to medical school.
Paul Stover
A junior diver from Johnston, IA, Stover enters the season as the defending three-meter champion at the Mid-East Regional. A Finance major, he's been a two-year letterwinner for the Panthers. In high school, Stover placed fifth at the state meet in 1993.
'66-'67 The first year for The State College of Iowa Men's Swim Team, coached by Glen Henry. The team is highly inexperienced, has no eligible butterflyers or divers, and swims their meets at a high school pool. Dual record: 0-7.
'67-'68 Mid-season NCAA rule change allows freshmen to compete. UNI places first at the first North Central Conference Tournament.
'69-'70 UNI ends its season with its first winning record.
'70-'71 Meets are now held at the Men's (West) Gymnasium Pool.
'71-'72 The Women's Intercollegiate Swim Team has its first season, headed by Coach Claudia Ferguson. The men end their season with the North Central Conference Crown.
'72-'73 The men win their second consecutive NCC Championship.
'73-'74 The men win their third consecutive NCC Championship.
'74-'75 The men win their fourth consecutive NCC Championship.
'75-'76 The men win their fifth consecutive NCC Championship.
'76-'77 The men win their sixth consecutive NCC Championship.
'77-'78 The men win their seventh consecutive NCC Championship.
'78-'79 The men switch to the Mid-Continent Conference.
'79-'80 After installing a bulkhead in the East Pool, both teams hold their meets there.
'80-'81 UNI Athletics moves up to the Division I level. Glen Henry coaches both the men and the women.
'81-'82 Jeff Boss takes over the men's team.
'82-'83 Shauna Thomaswick coaches the women for this season only.
'83-'84 Jim Hall becomes the men's head coach and Susan Stodghill becomes head coach of the women.
'86-'87 Jim Hall takes over as head coach of both teams.
'88-'89 Jim Hall is named Midwest Coach of the Year.
'90-'91 UNI Swimming celebrates its silver anniversary.
'95-'96 25 years of women's intercollegiate swimming at UNI. The men win the Mideast Classic Regional Championships. Jim Hall is named Coach of the Meet and Jacob Stall is named Swimmer of the Meet.
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Every year, in between fall and spring semesters, the UNI Swimming and Diving Team shakes the snow from their suits and the icicles from their noses to spend a little quality time together in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The trip is both fun and hard work, as there is plenty of free time in between tough two-a-day practices at the International Swimming Hall of Fame Complex and other area pools.
UNI swimmers and divers train alongside numerous other collegiate teams from across the country and around the world that are at the Hall of Fame Complex for the annual College Swim Coaches Forum. A relay meet, ocean mile swim, diving show, buffet dinner/social are among the events that take place as part of the forum.
UNI usually spends 1 1/2 to two weeks at the Forum and return to Iowa in peak athletic form with a killer tan to boot.
International Swimming Hall of Fame Complex
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