The season is underway for Ohio, and the team will swim in two events this weekend, both within less than a day from each other.
In its first meet of the year, Ohio gained momentum early against Ohio State by winning four of the first eight events.
That fast start eventually faded and the Bobcats dropped the dual meet last Saturday, but they hope to build off of their strengths and will swim in a pair of meets this weekend.
Ohio will start Friday in Rochester, Michigan, and will swim against host Oakland and Youngstown State. Following that event, the Bobcats will travel to Ypsilanti, Michigan, for a Saturday afternoon meet against their first Mid-American Conference opponent of the year, Eastern Michigan.
One of the biggest strengths that came from the team’s meet was its 400-meter medley relay unit. The relay was the first event of the meet and the Bobcats took the top spot, and the team believes that was an exciting starting point,
“We had a rough year last year, so we are rebuilding,” junior Addison Ferguson said. “We have some strong individuals who will build up and make that relay really great.”
Coach Rachel Komisarz-Baugh also shares her team’s excitement and believes the team has the right attitude and never gave up when the points started to rack up against them,
“I think both our medley relays this year are going to be strong,” Komisarz-Baugh said. “To see that they can be as successful where they are now in competing against a team like Ohio State, who knows what that will lead to, but I think it is a positive outlook for us.”
The Bobcats will be making special mental notes of Eastern Michigan’s pool as the MAC Championships will be held there later in the season,
“At different pools walls can be different, you need to know where the flags are as backstroker, same with blocks,” senior Tori Bagan said. “So, it is good to take mental notes now before you get down to MAC’s.”
This weekend will be a chance for the Bobcats to test what Komisarz-Baugh calls the true strength of a team, their ability to rebound and roll with the punches. Swimming strong this weekend will help the Bobcats continue to rebuild and work on the small things that held them back in their opening meet,
“I’m feeling great, I think the team is set. I think swimming against Ohio State shocked some of themselves a little bit at how fast they are. I think this weekend is going to be even better,” Komisarz-Baugh said.
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