Swimming Heads to Ohio State for Invite
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of Miami swimming team heads north to the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion this weekend for the Ohio State Invitational, where they will compete against the host Buckeyes and three other teams.
Coming off a 156-144 dual meet victory over Princeton last time out, the Hurricanes are looking to continue momentum against a largely unfamiliar field, which also includes Kentucky and Washington State.
“It’s going to be fun since we’re seeing some different competition,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “Florida is here, and we’re familiar with them, but with Ohio State, Washington State and Kentucky, we’re facing teams spread all over the country that we don’t have a lot of familiarity with.”
Kershaw expects his Hurricanes to match the intensity of the talented field.
“I’m sure they’ll all be ready to go. They all have some great swimmers and kind of a great range of depth and talent,” he said. “It’s going to be good to race against those schools – they all have swimmers that will qualify for the NCAA Championships, and we want to be one of those teams.”
With 2016 being an Olympic year, several meets across the country, including the Ohio State Invitational, will be using the 50-meter course in the morning events before switching to the traditional 25-yard college course in the final rounds.
“We have multiple options out there for some of our swimmers to achieve,” Kershaw said. “I think every team that’s here is in a similar mode. It’s traditionally a time in the season where a lot of teams swim faster and see if they can put some times out there to qualify for NCAA’s.
“That’s something we have in our sights.”
A number of veteran contributors who keyed Miami’s victory over the Tigers back on Nov. 6 will be relied upon once again this weekend. Juniors Angela Algee and Christina Leander, as well as sophomore Ksenia Yuskova, each captured two individual wins to boost the Hurricanes.
Other wins against Princeton came from juniors Cameron Davis (1000 freestyle) and Julia Schippert (100 breaststroke) as well as freshman Roxanne Yu (200 backstroke).
Kershaw expects the Canes to benefit from the current training regimen.
“We’ve had a little rest, and it’s been a little less grueling and less tiresome work,” Kershaw said. “It’s been more about honing in and refining their skills, giving them a chance to shine at this point in the season. We’re looking forward to seeing them put that in play.”
The Hurricanes have already picked up three dual meet wins early in the season, and are hoping to build on that success in Columbus.
“Our confidence has definitely risen,” Kershaw said. “I think always with athletics, that’s one of the roles of the staff – to continue letting student-athletes know what they’re capable of…I think they are coming in confident, and I think with each swim everybody is going to be gaining more confidence as we go. We’re excited to get it started here this weekend.”
