Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Swimming and Diving 2003-04 Schedule Announced
08/19/2003 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Aug. 19, 2003
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
Carbondale, Ill. - The Southern Illinois men's and women's swimming and diving teams would both like to return to the top spot in the Missouri Valley Conference this year after finishing second last season. The two teams finished as conference champions in 2002 - at title they would like to have back.
The women's team starts the season off with a trip to the University of Kansas on Sept. 26, while the men's team begins the season at Nebraska on Oct. 25. The two teams will also face off against such competitors as Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana, Ohio State and Western Kentucky. The Saluki women will host the 2004 MVC Championships on Feb. 19-21. The three remaining MVC men's teams (SIU, SMS, and Evansville ) will participate, along with Louisiana-Monroe and Western Kentucky, in the Missouri Valley Invitational, held simultaneously with the women's MVC Championships.
"I'm really excited about this year, and I think our guys are going to be really excited" said men's head coach Rick Walker. "We're going to go up against some really good programs. We need that. I'm a firm believer that if you're looking to make moves up, you have to go play in their water (at their level). It's going to be challenging."
The two teams are maturing and basically still intact from last season, losing only two seniors for the women and four seniors for the men. Women's head coach Jeff Goelz believes the unity and talent of the team could catapult the Salukis back to champion status.
"Our whole schedule is tremendous. It's the best schedule we've ever had as far as competition goes," says Goelz. "(The team) is anxious, gets along well and is ready to go. We brought in a lot of freshmen, but there is a lot of potential and talent in this group. With the right upperclass leadership, good attitudes and work ethic, they could really do some major things."
SIU will host Missouri on Nov. 7, Division II perennial Drury on Nov. 15, and rival Evansville on Feb. 7.
2003-04 Swimming and Diving Schedule
(Men & Women)
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIMESept. 26 @ Kansas (Women only) Lawrence, Kan. TBASept. 27 @ Kansas Open Water (Women only) Lawrence, Kan. TBAOct. 25 @ Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. TBANov. 1 @ Illinois w/ Iowa State Champaign, Ill. TBANov. 7 vs. Missouri (Men Only) Carbondale, Ill. 2pmNov. 15 vs. Drury Carbondale, Ill. TBANov. 20-22 @ Northwestern Invite (Women only) Evanston, Ill. TBANov. 20-22 @ Purdue Invitational (Men only) West Lafayette, Ind. TBAJan. 10 @ Indiana w/ Ohio State Bloomington, Ind. TBAJan. 17 @ Western Kentucky Bowling Green, Ky. TBAJan. 24 @ Southwest Missouri Springfield, Mo. TBAFeb. 7 vs. Evansville Carbondale, Ill. TBAFeb. 19-21 MVC Championships (Women Only) Carbondale, Ill. TBAFeb. 19-21 Missouri Valley Invitational (Men Only) Carbondale, Ill. TBA
