The Gophers will try to win their fourth consecutive title in the Big Ten women's swimming and diving championships this week. The four-day meet, hosted by Ohio State, starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The No. 14-ranked Gophers, who won by 111 points a year ago, return five first-team All-Big Ten selections, including the reigning 800-yard freestyle relay champions Kiera Janzen, Jessica Plant, Tori Simenec and Lauren Votava.
Kierra Smith won the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes and Kelly Kremer was named Big Ten Coach of the Year last season.
Two Gophers honored
Kyle Rau's four goals and Adam Wilcox's impressive effort in the net earned the Gophers a pair of Big Ten hockey weekly honors.
Rau picked up the Big Ten second star of the week after a hat trick in Friday's 6-2 victory over Michigan, and added an empty-net goal in Saturday's 2-0 victory.
The senior forward also recorded his 150th career point over the weekend.
Wilcox was the third star of the week after holding Michigan's nation-best offense to two goals through two games. Wilcox made 21 saves Friday and 26 Saturday. It was the first time this season Michigan, averaging 4.21 goals per game entering the series, had been held scoreless.
Michigan State sophomore forward Mackenzie MacEachern was the first star. He had four goals, including both winners, as the Spartans swept Penn State 3-0 and 3-2.
