November is the time of year when Americans eat a combined 675 million pounds of turkey, shoppers do anything for a good sale, and swimmers complete in their first meets of the season.
Ohio’s season is already in full swing as it lost its first two dual meets to Eastern Michigan and Ohio State before dominating in the Patriot Invitational two weekends ago.
With the swimming and diving team being 0-2, Ohio coach Greg Werner still sees room for improvement.
“We had some great performances so far,” Werner said after the Patriot Invitational. “But we still have a long journey ahead and will try to improve on coming off the walls and on our kick routes.”
Still, Werner has nothing to worry about so far. Senior Katey Brooks was named Mid-American Conference swimmer of the week, after having claimed four first-place finishes at the Patriot Invitational. Junior Laurin Williams returned after being out for health reasons against Eastern Michigan and finished first in all of her distance races.
The diving team appears to be stronger than ever in program history as well.
Werner does not have to worry about the MAC championship qualification, as the swimming and diving teams in the MAC automatically gain a bid to the championship meet.
Every one of the MAC’s eight swimming and diving teams awaits a three-day MAC championship in Buffalo in March. Werner declared winning the conference as a goal before the season started.
With more than a month into the current swim season, and the Zippy Invitational looming on the schedule this weekend, Ohio faces some stiff competition from conference foes Eastern Michigan (4-0, 2-0 MAC).
With 34 swimmers on their roster, the Eagles boast both depth and senior Briana Emig, the best distance swimmer in the MAC.
The meet between the Eagles and the Bobcats might have come too early in the season, as Ohio struggled through injuries, but Eastern Michigan still should be considered a title contender.
Despite the loss to Eastern Michigan and a 1-1 record, Toledo is still a title contender. The Rockets brought in a strong freshman class, already being listed among the top swimmers in the MAC, and they bolstered a roster that now features 30 athletes. The only downside the Rockets are facing is a less in-depth diving team than Ohio and Eastern Michigan have to offer.
A team that might be overlooked is Ohio’s longtime rival Miami (3-1), which has already defeated Bowling Green.
Werner knows his squad will face tough teams in the conference championships but is already making sure that the Bobcats will be prepared for the competition, as they are going through several tough practice phases during winter break.
“We train for the championships,” Werner said. “We will be prepared.”
Miami, Toledo and Eastern Michigan will be, too.
am794811@ohiou.edu
