The Ohio State women’s swimming and diving team concluded its dual-meet season on Sunday with a 151.5-147.5 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers.

Despite the outcome, OSU swept the Big Ten swimmer and diver of the week awards. Freshman Julie Broms won the diving award while freshman Gulsah Gunenc took the swimming award. They were the final weekly dual-meet Big Ten awards of the season.

The Buckeye women went into the final event – the 400-yard freestyle relay – with a slim lead but were unable to close out the victory.

“I wanted to win, but they did a great job. It was a great effort,” OSU coach Jeanne Fleck said.

Despite their youth, the Buckeyes held strong against a tough Volunteer team.

“We played them pretty well,” senior Katie Severson said. “Tennessee is a good team, and I think we are happy to be as close to them as we were.”

The Buckeyes got off to a fast start, as the divers dominated the 3-meter board. Freshmen Broms and Anesa Beard placed first and second, accumulating scores of 321.45 and 298.95 respectively.

Brom’s score was 21 points more than a three-time All-American diver from Tennessee. It was her 13th first-place finish in the 3-meter dive this season, having only competed in 14 events.

The momentum continued through the strokes of sophomore Nicole Maglich, as she won the 1000-yard freestyle in 10:16.79.

As quickly as the Buckeyes found themselves on top of a hill, they were buried in a hole, getting swept by the Volunteers in the 200-yard freestyle.

Despite a slim lead going into the final event, accompanied by the efforts of two-time winners Rebekah Rychvalsky and Gunencthe, the Buckeyes could not seal the victory.

Though it is not a storybook ending for seniors Severson, Lindsay Goodson and Stephanie Raezer, the trio could remember times when the outcomes were not so close.

“Our freshman year, we were losing every dual meet; now we are beating Big Ten teams,” Goodson said.

Fleck agreed and knew who to credit with the newfound competitiveness.

“They were my first recruiting class,” she said. “Without those three girls, we couldn’t be where we are now.”

The three seniors said the sweat and tears, and ups and downs were worth it in the end.

“It’s been a lot of hard work. I’ve put a lot of time in but it’s worth it,” Severson said. “It’s taught me so many things about myself and life.”

There is not too much time for nostalgia, as the Big Ten Championship is right around the corner. It will take place Feb. 18-21 in Minnesota.

Placing ninth last year, the Buckeyes are heading into this year’s competition equipped with a high level of confidence and the motivation to improve.

“I’m excited,” Severson said. “I think we’ve all swam well so far and we can only do better.”

As for the direction of the program, Goodson shared a credence that seems to be radiating from the entire team.

“This team is going to be something you are going to be talking about for a while,” she said.