Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Swimming To Compete At Fall Illini Classic
10/24/2002 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Oct. 24, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - After a four-week layoff, the Southern Illinois University women's swimming and diving team will be back in the pool this weekend at the Fall Illini Classic at the University of Illinois on Saturday, October 26. The Salukis will face host in-state host Illinois, Michigan State and Missouri in the four-team dual at the IMPE Pool.
"These schools have some great athletes, but so do we. We can compete with them and just have to get after them. This should be a great meet. Missouri and Illinois will really try to put on a good show since we all recruit many of the same kids," said Jeff Goelz, head women's swimming and diving coach.
"I want our kids to race against the big schools. Against Kansas most of our kids stepped up and raced. This is just the second college meet for many of our kids and we expect them to step up another level. "
SIU last swam against Kansas on September 27 in Carbondale. The Salukis lost the season-opening dual 119-80, but had many positives at the meet to build on and have been training hard the last four weeks.
"I think we'll perform well after some pretty intense training the last four weeks. We saw a lot of good things after the Kansas meet and some things that we need to work on. We've been working on fixing the things we saw at Kansas and expanding the events some people will compete in. This meet we hope to see the fruits of our labor," added Goelz.
"The meet will give me a chance to swim some kids in different events and that's kind of exciting for the kids and us coaches to see what people can do. I want our kids to be challenged and go for it. I think we're ready mentally and physically. I hope that we have a lot of new best times."
The Fall Illini Classic begins at 10 a.m. in Champaign, Illinois.
