University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Iowa
Minnesota Opens 2026-27 Season at Home Against Iowa
10/9/2026 12:14:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – The No. 24 ranked University of Minnesota women's swimming and diving program kicks off their 2026-27 season this weekend, welcoming in the University of Iowa Hawkeyes for a dual meet at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11:00 AM.
MEET INFORMATION
No. 24 Minnesota vs. Iowa
Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Saturday, Oct. 10
11:00 AM (CT)
ROSTER IN REVIEW
The Gopher women's program returns 23 athletes to the 30 athlete roster, seven of which competed at last season's NCAA Championships in Atlanta.
Katie McCarthy returns to the Gophers as team captain and Minnesota's Big Ten Swimmer to Watch. McCarthy earned All American Honorable Mention honors with an 11th place finish in the 1650 free at the NCAA Championships, following a pair of top five finishes in the 400 IM and 1650 free at the Big Ten Championships. McCarthy capped off the year collecting CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Elna Widerstrom also returns to the Gophers as a team captain and Minnesota's Big Ten Diver to Watch. Widerstrom hits the pool as the reigning Big Ten Champion in the 1-meter springboard and now ranks sixth in program history in the 1-meter (336.95) and seventh in the 3-meter (374.35). Widerstrom collected a pair of All-American honors in both springboard events at the NCAA Championships, and capped off the year being named the 2026 Big Ten Women's Diver of the Year.
Other returning NCAA Championship participants include: Ava Goodno, Morgan Thomas, Livi Wanner, Rachel Conley, and Annalei Dow.
The roster also features six freshman swimmers and one freshman diver: Claire Conklin, Dana Fairbanks, Faith Lamah, Emmy Meyer, Sara Reppucci, Signe Stahl, and Mia Thomas.
GOPHERS IN THE POLLS
The Gopher women's program opens up the 2026-27 season ranked No. 24 in the first College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Division I poll. Minnesota closed out the previous season sitting at No. 22 in the final rankings.
UP NEXT
The Gopher women's program will return to the pool and the men's program will kick off their season next weekend at The Dual Meet Tournament hosted by Georgia Tech, beginning on Friday, Oct. 16.
