Swimming to Travel West for SMU Classic
LEWISVILLE, Texas – Members of the Miami Hurricanes swimming & diving team will travel to the Westside Natatorium this weekend for their second trip to the SMU Classic.
In addition to Miami and host Mustangs, the SMU Classic will feature ACC opponents Louisville and NC State, as well as LSU and national power USC.
The meet will mark a homecoming of sorts for head swimming coach Andy Kershaw, who spent 10 years on the coaching staff at SMU before signing on as head coach of the Hurricanes prior to the 2013-14 season.
Kershaw said he is excited to bring his 2014-15 Miami Hurricanes team back out west for the challenge.
“I’m proud of them, how they conduct themselves and how they perform,” Kershaw said of his team. “I’m proud on that end. Obviously it’s nice to go to a place you know, that you’re familiar with and can see some old friends and faces, including longtime mentors. There’s a special element to it.”
After opening its season with a tough slate of opponents at the All-Florida Invitational, Kershaw said his team is excited to take the next step this weekend at the Classic.
“We tried to identify a few things at All-Florida that we needed to improve on, and we tried to hone in on those things the last couple of weeks,” Kershaw said. “Now is a time to take another step forward in everything – training, competing and everything we’re doing.”
A young Miami Hurricanes squad finished sixth at last year’s SMU Classic, compiling 176 points across the two-day tournament. Then-freshmen Cameron Davis, Angela Algee and Julia Schippert helped anchor Miami’s performance over that weekend.
This year, Kershaw expects his team to be better prepared for the challenge ahead. A well-balanced attack helped lead Miami to a fifth-place showing at All-Florida, including top finishes from veterans like senior Heather Arseth and junior My Fridell, as well as younger contributors like freshman Julie Suarez and a talented sophomore group.
With more time to prepare under their belts, the Hurricanes are excited for the opportunity this weekend.
“It’s one of my favorite meets, no question. I’m really excited to get there and get ready to go,” Kershaw said. “It’s absolutely great competition, including one of the top teams in the country and a couple of ACC teams which helps us prepare for our season.
“It’s good to prepare to see the best, which is what we’re going to be doing for the second straight year.”
Stay tuned to HurricaneSports.com for updates from the Hurricanes trip to the SMU Classic, and make sure to follow @MiamiSwimming on Twitter.
