Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Swimming and Diving Hosts Nebraska
10/21/2004 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Oct. 21, 2004
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University women's swimming and diving team welcome the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium Sat. Oct. 23 for the first home dual meet of the season.
Nebraska is led by third-year head coach, Pablo Morales, a two-time Olympian and one of the top male swimmers in U.S. history. Morales was 100-meter butterfly world record holder from 1986-95.
But the team isn't thinking so much about the coach as about the team.
"I don't think there is pressure to necessarily win the meet, but I think there is pressure in wanting to stand up and acknowledge that we are facing a good team and that we can still compete well against them," said first-year women's head coach Rick Walker.
The women are coming off of a 13-event sweep at Evansville Oct. 16 and Walker is thrilled with his team's efforts.
"I watched the women walk around with their heads up if they didn't perform to exactly how they wanted to. They let the rough performances go and didn't carry them around with them the rest of the meet," said Walker. "Those are the things that help you win championships and it has everything to do with these girls. That's what you have to be able to do because not every meet is perfect."
Nebraska, who finished sixth place in the Big 12 last spring, returns one national qualifier to this year's squad.
"I don't expect Nebraska to make things easy on us," said Walker. "And to me that's a sign of respect."
The meet will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the SIU Student Recreation Center pool.
