Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Swimming & Diving Starts Season At Kansas
09/24/2003 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Sept. 24, 2003
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
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CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University women's swimming and diving team will face off against one of its toughest opponents of the 2003-04 season as the Salukis visit Kansas this weekend.
The 23-year-old rivalry has been dominated in the past by Kansas with the all-time winning margin being 22-1 against SIU. That fact doesn't seem to scare head coach Jeff Goelz one bit.
"When you face big time schools (like Kansas) and have a tough, competitive schedule like we do it tends to make schools in the MVC seem a little easier," said Goelz. "It'd be nice to beat (Kansas) once, but with only four seniors and a lot of freshmen that could be difficult."
The dual meet between the schools, which takes place at KU's Robinson Natatorium, begins Friday night at 6 p.m. The event will be swam in high school format, which Goelz says is a plus for SIU's many incoming freshmen.
"Swimming the high school format allows our freshmen to see what college swimming is like, but do something that they're used to at the same time," said Goelz.
The Salukis will also take the opportunity on Saturday morning to continue the long-running tradition of competing with Kansas in an open water race. SIU boasts sophomore Briley Bergen, a member of the U.S. National Open Water Team and a nine-time Open Water National Champion, who finished eighth this summer in the 10th FINA Open Water World Championships. Bergen is someone KU head coach Clark Campbell says his team looks forward to competing against.
"Swimming against SIU will be fun," said Campbell. "And the team is eager to compete in the lake race against a national team member."
The open water race will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. Results of both the dual meet and the open water race can be found at www.SIUSalukis.com.
