Head coach Kelly Kremer’s men’s and women’s swim and dive teams will come prepared for a Big Ten rival Friday.
Minnesota’s next meet is against Iowa at 5 p.m. in Iowa City, Iowa. It’s been more than six years since either the Minnesota men’s or women’s swim team has lost a meet to Iowa. The men’s teams last loss against Iowa came in fall of 2011, when Iowa won 160.5-139.5.
“Our women have been one of the top teams in the Big Ten for a number of years. Our men are really coming into their own, too,” Kremer said. “When you are familiar [with Iowa], you ultimately want to compete really well with them. We’ve been fortunate to have an opportunity to compete against them every year.”
Last season, the women’s team defeated Iowa at Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on Oct. 29, 2016, by a score of 186-114.
Senior Brooke Zeiger said the women’s team (1-0) doesn’t go into a meet expecting to win. Instead, she said the team focuses on giving its best effort.
“We’re not really focused on outcomes. We try to stay present when we’re at a meet,” Zeiger said. “We take it race by race.”
Kremer said the reason why the women’s team continues to win against Iowa season after season is the team’s leadership.
“We have an outstanding group of young women. The leadership within the team has been outstanding year after year,” he said.
The men’s team (0-1) won its meet against Iowa 185.5-113.5 on Oct. 29, 2016, winning 14 of 16 events.
Junior Bowen Becker said it’s fun to compete against Iowa, especially in Iowa’s pool.
“[Iowa’s pool] is brand new. It’s a fast pool. They [Iowa] are always great competitors,” Becker said. “Everyone [on both teams] brings what they have.”
In it’s first dual meet of the season, which took place Oct. 5-6, the Iowa women’s team defeated Michigan State 189-108 and Northern Iowa 184-113. Friday’s meet will be a one-day event. Zeiger said there are a few differences between competing in meets that last for one day instead of two.
“You have to be ready to go when it’s day one. You don’t get that second try,” Zeiger said.
Minnesota’s men’s team will try to rebound after losing to Florida State on Oct. 7. Becker said the swimmers have to get moving again after a long bus ride from Minneapolis to Iowa City.
“Your joints get stiff. Your muscles get stiff,” Becker said. “You’ve got to find a way around it because it’s how [the] sport is.”
Kremer says he wants both teams to focus on details such as turns and how to improve every race.
“[The goal] is to ultimately advance to the Big Ten and NCAA championships in February and March,” Kremer said. “We really want to keep getting better with details, race better, dive better and hopefully show progress toward what we’re ultimately shooting for.”
