Canes to Host Florida, UConn for First Spring Meet
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Fresh off an 11-day training trip to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, the Miami Hurricanes swimming & diving team opens its 2017 spring schedule Sat., Jan. 7 against the Florida Gators and Connecticut Huskies at the Whitten University Center Pool. Admission to the meet is free.
The Hurricanes swimmers, who last competed at the NC State Invite in Greensboro, N.C., traveled to Colorado on Dec. 26 for a training regimen just short of two weeks.
“I know there were times for the swimmers where they had a lot of fun, and I do firmly believe when they look back on their overall college experience and how swimming played a role, that will be a memorable experience,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said about his team’s training. “We also put them to the test. I know there were times for them when they were tired, they were doing the work. Overall, it was a lot of fun, and there was a lot gained from it.”
While there, the Hurricanes trained alongside the Cal men’s swimming team and the Stanford women’s swimming team. Some of the other Olympic residents in training in Colorado Springs helped provide additional motivation.
“We got to spend a little time in the water with them, and as a program develops, I think it’s more appropriate to be around very highly ranked programs more often,” Kershaw said. “That was a great example for the team to see how far the program has come, and where we belong.
“I think the Paralympian residents made a big impact on our team. Just seeing how courageous they are and the great sacrifices they make, it was just a very empowering situation.”
Kershaw said the trip also paid a number of dividends for the swimming student-athletes, including the ability to utilize the center’s advanced video analysis technology and advice from the scientists on site.
“We did get some great input from some of the scientists that are out there both leading up to and during the training, as far as helping make sure that we’ve planned the camp, given the altitude factor, in the best way,” Kershaw said. “I think that was a big benefit, because it allowed us to maintain the right level of intensity throughout versus burying them right off the bat and not being able to recover.”
Miami will look to main perfect at its home pool in 2016-17; the Hurricanes topped FIU on Sat., Oct. 1 and also took down Princeton on Fri., Nov. 4.
The hosts will face a stiff challenge in No. 10/21 Florida. The two teams have not met since 2005, but did compete against each other at the All-Florida Invitational in 2015, when the Gators won the event in Gainesville, Fla.
“I think part of this goes back to what I was talking about – the more our program develops, the more we should be around teams like Florida. Greg Troy, their head coach, I consider him one of my mentors. I have a great respect for them,” Kershaw said. “I know we’re going to be seeing a team that is very well-coached, that trains very hard and certainly does the work that’s needed. I’m sure for both of us, we’re going to be going tin that meet like a later round of a boxing match. We’re both going to be throwing the best punches we can, given the fatigue we have.”
Though the Huskies’ swimming contingent will not make the trip to Coral Gables, Connecticut’s divers will be competing against the Hurricanes divers and Gators divers contingent beginning at 2 p.m.
Miami’s divers impressed at the U.S. Winter Nationals in December, with redshirt freshman David Dinsmore capturing his first USA Diving National Championship.
“We’re in the best position we’ve ever been to be focused on absolutely unloading when we get to ACCs – from a training standpoint to a confidence standpoint to a mental approach standpoint, I think in every way,” Kershaw said. “The team is totally on board with us continuing to do that throughout this season.
“Anytime we compete, we want to bring the best game we can bring that day, and we want the other team to bring the best they can that day, and we certainly want to come out on top. Ultimately, we have to have it all come together at ACC Championships and we have to get multiple swimmers swimming and scoring points at NCAA Championships.”
