Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Swimming and Diving Open Season in Evansville
10/13/2004 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Oct. 13, 2004
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University men and women's swimming and diving teams open the 2004-05 season Sat. Oct. 16, at Evansville, Ind. The dual meet will begin at 11 a.m. at the Carson Center for the Salukis first meet as a combined program under head coach Rick Walker.
"What we are looking for (from the first meet of the season) is just gauging where we are," said Walker. "The meet will help us find out what areas we need to tweak, or do a little better at. We'll find out what's working and what's not working."
The Saluki men are coming off of a first-place finish at the 2004 MVC invitational, while the women finished second at the MVC Championships. Evansville men and women finished fourth respectively at each meet.
"Evansville is a good solid program in our conference. It's definitely a meet we should gear up for," said Walker. "I think it's going to be a good coming out party for the freshman and hopefully the upperclassmen and everyone in between will begin to set the tone for what we can look forward to the rest of the season."
The Salukis welcome seven new freshmen to the women's team and return four 2004 MVC champions in juniors Elizabeth McGowan (1650 free) and Kelsey Kinsella (100 free) and sophomores Gabriella Flores (200 fly) and Nora Bunford (100 breast).
Four new freshmen join the men's team as well as a junior college transfer. SIU returns All-MVC Invitational champions sophomore Brandon Birchak (1 and 3-meter dive) and seniors Ivan Sanchez (200 and 500 free) and Marcello Possato (200 back).
