Indiana University Athletics
IU Departs for Big Tens
2/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
February 18, 2003
HOOSIERS TO COMPETE AT 2003 BIG TEN WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEK
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Bloomington, Ind. - One year ago, at the 2002 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich., Indiana came within 33.50 points of winning its first Big Ten women's swimming title since 1981. In all reality, the meet came down to a matter of inches as Indiana was disqualified for a false start during the meet's final relay event, which ultimately provided the winning margin for eventual champion Penn State. Beginning Wednesday evening in West Lafayette, Ind., Indiana will make another run at a Big Ten championship, although this time walking away with a title may be even more difficult than last year.
"Our goal for this meet is to always have 100 percent best times," said Tierney. "We've never achieved that goal totally but if we ever do, boy, that would be a great accomplishment. We can't control how other teams swim. Our best events come on the final day so we will have to take things one day at a time to be in contention for a championship."
At this year's Big Ten Conference meet, Indiana, who finished 10th at the 2002 NCAA Championships, will likely face its toughest competition from Penn State, Wisconsin, and Purdue, the latter of whom will be swimming in their home pool. In dual meet action earlier this season, which is often not at all indicative of what may happen at championship events, Indiana defeated the Boilermakers, while losing to Penn State. Fifth-year head coach Dorsey Tierney, who has been recognized as the Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year in each of the past two seasons, is well aware that the Hoosiers may find themselves in championship contention again in 2003 but that a team title at this year's meet would come as a relatively big surprise.
"Wisconsin has had just a fantastic year so far," said Tierney. "Their sprint freestyle is really strong and their relays are outstanding. They have a great distance swimmer in Carly Piper, who is also very versatile. She can swim the 100 (free) up to the mile. They've also got a couple of really good IM's who will be a good challenge for our IM'ers.
"Penn State is just a solid team all-around and they are always really good at the end of the season. They tend to rise to the occasion in championship meets. They've got two outstanding freshmen. Purdue is going to be very tough. They're at home and they've got as many seniors as we do--seven or eight. Experience is always valuable in championship situations."
At the 2002 Big Ten Championships, Indiana's Brooke Taflinger, Kristy Martin, and Tina Gretlund finished first, second, and third, respectively, in the 400-yard individual medley. All three return in 2003.
The loss of All-America backstroker Susan Woessner, who graduated following the 2002 campaign, has created a bit of a void in the IU lineup. The 2002 Big Ten Swimmer-of-the-Year, Woessner won both the 100- and 200-yard backstroke at last year's Big Ten meet. Indiana should make up some of the points it lost along with Woessner's departure in the diving well as, for the first time in Big Ten history, platform diving will earn team points. Previously, it was contested as an exhibition event. If the event had been scored in 2002, Indiana would have won the Big Ten title.
Senior and 2000 Olympian Sara Hildebarand, who was the 2002 Big Ten Diver-of-the-Championships, along with fellow National Team member Cassandra Cardinell and senior Lori Matthys will compete on platform in addition to the 1- and 3-meter diving events for the Hoosiers.
Said IU head diving coach Dr. Jeff Huber, "It's always tough (at Big Tens). There's such great competition. We're not taking this meet lightly. We try not to completely peak for it though, as we hope to do our best diving at the NCAA Championships and then at the World Trials, which will be in April. We're ready to dive well."
While Taflinger and fellow junior Sarah Fiden, who was also named to the 2002 All-Big Ten team as an at-large selection, are expected to return in 2004, the 2003 Big Ten Championships will be the final conference meet for senior swimmers and divers Jenny Bechem, Megan Geers, Tina Gretlund, Maggie Helmers, Sara Hildebrand, Kristy Martin, Lori Matthys, Colleen McCracken, and Anne Williams.
"There is no question that this is a group of seniors who have been through the lean years of this program," said Tierney. "When they first came in, going into the Big Ten Championships our goal was to finish among the top six teams. Here we are four years later and we want to be vying for a championship, which I think speaks volumes about that class."
Following the Big Ten Championships, several IU swimmers and divers will compete at the 2002 NCAA Championships, which will be held at the University of Auburn from March 20-22.
Additional Dorsey Tierney quotes:
"Our goal is to also is to race effectively better than we have all year and to pick up some NCAA qualifying times."
"This group of seniors has improved each year. It's fairly unusual in this day and age to have a group that stays intact. To have seven swimmers and two divers who have stayed together throughout their college careers, through the ups-and-downs is unusual in this day. This demonstrates the strength they give one another and the value of seeing improvement. When you taste a little bit of success, you tend to want more. I think that drives this group of seniors."
Additional Dr. Jeff Huber quotes:
"To prepare for the Big Ten Championships we cut down on the number of dives and, rather than looking at the quantity of dives, we are looking at the quality of the dives. We are doing them in meet order and kind of simulating in practice what we will be doing in a meet. They also did not lift weights this week. We do have somewhat of a taper and we've actually looked pretty good this week. We don't look great but hopefully we'll look great on the days that count."
"We're not as deep. Unfortunately, through injury and other factors we only have three women divers this year instead of six. Sara Hildebrand, Cassandra Cardinell, and Lori Matthys are diving very well and I think all three are capable of making the finals in all three events. I think we are going to diver very well but we'll see when we get there. It's a good pool and we've had some good performances there in the past."
Schedule of Events
Wednesday
Finals (7 p.m.)
• 200-yd medley relay
• 800-yd freestyle relay
Thursday
Prelims (11 a.m.)
• 500-yd freestyle
• 200-yd individual medley
• 50-yd freestyle
• 1-meter diving (prelims, 1 p.m.) (final, round I)
Finals (7 p.m.)
• 200-yd freestyle relay
• 500-yd freestyle
• 200-yd individual medley
• 50-yd freestyle
• 1-meter diving (final, round II)
Friday
Prelims (11 a.m.)
• 400-yd individual medley
• 100-yd butterfly
• 200-yd freestyle
• 100-yd breaststroke
• 100-yd backstroke
• 3-meter diving (prelims, 1 p.m.) (final, round I)
Finals (7 p.m.)
• 400-yd medley relay
• 400-yd individual medley
• 100-yd butterfly
• 200-yd freestyle
• 100-yd breaststroke
• 100-yd backstroke
• 3-meter diving (final, round II)
Saturday
Prelims (11 a.m.)
• 200-yd backstroke
• 100-yd freestyle
• 200-yd breaststroke
• 200-yd butterfly
• Platform diving (prelims)
• 1,650-yd freestyle (all but last heat of timed final)
Finals (7 p.m.)
• 1,650-yd freestyle (last heat of timed final)
• 200-yd backstroke
• 100-yd freestyle
• 200-yd breaststroke
• 200-yd butterfly
• Platform diving (final)
• 400-yd freestyle relay
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11