Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Swimming & Diving Teams Face Missouri On Saturday
12/06/2001 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 6, 2001
Carbondale, Ill. - After three weeks without competition, the Saluki men's and women's swimming and diving teams will compete against the University of Missouri in a dual meet on Saturday, December 8 at the Missouri Student Recreation Center Pool at 2 p.m.
The SIU women (2-1 in dual meets) faced Missouri at the Fall Illini Classic, finishing ahead of the Tigers and second behind Illinois. Despite finishing well ahead of the Tigers earlier at an invitational, the Salukis expect a tough meet at Missouri.
"We haven't trained the way that I would like to the last few weeks so we're going to go into the Missouri meet and swim the best we can. They've got the edge on paper," said Jeff Goelz, SIU women's swimming and diving head coach.
"Missouri's good, this is one the best teams they've had in a while so it should be a good meet. Racing the bigger schools will be good experience for us. We want to swim fast against some fast competition."
SIU's men are unbeaten in dual meets (2-0) but finished close behind Missouri in two invitational meets earlier this season.
"Missouri won't be an easy meet. On paper I think they're better. I think we have some areas we can take advantage of and get close enough to have a shot at winning. The small pool (only six lanes) is to their advantage," said Rick Walker, SIU men's swimming and diving head coach.
"They have some real strong swimmers that are ranked nationally in the 400 IM and the backstroke. We need to minimize their advantage and maximize our opportunities to have a shot. We have to have a good day. If we do win it will be a great victory over a good program."
Not only will this be the first competition in three weeks, the Salukis will not compete again for six weeks (January 19 vs W. Kentucky) so this meet is important for many reasons.
"It's a good confidence boost to get through the holidays if we have a good meet. It will make it easier to train over the holidays. It's important that we swim well and have a good solid meet even if we don't swim our fastest times of the year," stated Goelz.
"I'd like to get some good times and a performance that will carry us over through the holiday break while we train. Hopefully we'll find something to work on and motivate us through the training," added Walker.
Both SIU coaches will take partial teams due to the smaller six-lane pool which allows for just three participants per event unlike the eight-lane pool at the SIU Rec Center.
