When the Bobcats compete against a trio of teams this weekend, there will be various emotions swirling inside the Aquatic Center, as it’s the final weekend of home competition this season.
Ohio will host Bowling Green Friday, before turning around to host West Virginia and Iowa State Saturday.
“It will be my last time swimming in (the Aquatic Center),” senior Laurin Williams said. “I have some mixed emotions; I want to race and do well, but it’s just a weird feeling knowing this is my last time swimming here.”
In a season marked with early turmoil after former coach Greg Werner was fired, Williams has viewed this season as a success and is nostalgic on the thought of her last season with the Bobcats, despite a month of competition remaining on
the schedule.
“I think the season has gone really well,” Williams said. “Despite what’s happened earlier in the year, it’s been great. We have all really grown together.”
Williams, who notched two individual wins in Ohio’s 156-144 loss to Akron last weekend, will look to carry the team again in its final two home meets.
“We prepare just like we do every week,” Williams said. “We’re going in with a positive attitude and hopefully come out with a win.”
Despite encountering injuries in practices last week, coach Derick Roe expects the Bobcats to bounce back against two Saturday opponents who the Bobcats have very little experience competing against.
“We just have to do a whole lot scouting,” Roe said. “If that’s looking at previous races or dual meets, we have to just set up our line-up according to what we have.”
One of the injured Bobcats, diver Haleigh Bartlett, is expected to miss the next few weeks, but is aiming to return for the MAC Championship. Bartlett has been reliable for the Bobcats this year, setting a season best against Denison in the one-meter dive.
“Haliegh is doing alright,” Roe said. “She’s starting to put weight on her foot and is right now wearing a boot to heal it. We hope she’ll be ready by the MAC championship.”
With only so much preparation the team can do, Roe is optimistic the team can learn from its previous losses and races.
“We’re learning from our short comings,” Roe said. “We’re trying to get healthier right now and were watching our races and looking to improve on our own flaws.”
@Lukeoroark
lr514812@ohiou.edu
