Big Ten Announces 2024-25 Women’s Swimmers and Divers to Watch

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Big Ten announced the 2024-25 Women’s Swimmers and Divers to Watch on Wednesday, featuring one swimmer and one diver from each of the 14 women’s swim and dive programs. The watch list was determined by the conference’s head coaches. 

The list features five First Team All-Big Ten swimmers and divers from last season and a pair of NCAA Champions in Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon (200 backstroke) and Minnesota’s Vivi Del Angel (platform). Bacon was also named the Big Ten’s Swimmer of the Year and Swimmer of the Championships while Del Angel was named the Big Ten Diver of the Year. Also featured on the list is Indiana’s Skyler Liu who earned Diver of the Championships in 2024.  

The Big Ten had three teams finish in the top 10 at last year’s NCAA Championships, including Indiana (7^th), USC (8^th) and Ohio State (9^th).  

The 2024-25 season is set to begin on Friday, Sept. 27.  

The complete list of 2024-25 Women’s Swimmers and Divers to Watch can be found below. 
 
2024-25 Big Ten Women’s Swimmers and Divers to Watch 
Chloe Diner, Fr., Illinois 
Bethany Mercer, So., Illinois 
Skyler Liu, Sr., Indiana 
Anna Peplowski, Sr., Indiana 
Makayla Hughbanks, Sr., Iowa 
Olivia Swalley, So., Iowa 
Stephanie Balduccini, So., Michigan 
Kiarra Milligan, Jr., Michigan 
Vivi Del Angel, Jr., Minnesota 
Katie McCarthy, So., Minnesota 
Kelsey Clairmont, Jr., Nebraska 
Gena Jorgenson, Jr., Nebraska 
Isabella Chen, Fr., Northwestern 
Nikki Venema, Gr., Northwestern 
Lena Hentschel, Jr., Ohio State 
Katherine Zenick, Gr., Ohio State 
Abigail Ekstrom, So., Penn State  
Margaret Markvardt, Gr., Penn State 
Maggie Love, Sr., Purdue 
Sophie McAfee, Sr., Purdue 
Blanka Berecz, So., Rutgers 
Holly Prasanto, Sr., Rutgers 
Lauren Hallaselka, So., UCLA 
Rosie Murphy, Jr., UCLA 
Minna Abraham, So., USC 
Kate Miller, Fr., USC 
Phoebe Bacon, Gr., Wisconsin 
Vivian Kinnard, So., Wisconsin