In any sport, the last event held at home of the season can always spark some emotions. For the Wisconsin swim and dive team, Friday night marks the last races in the UW Natatorium for four women and three men as UW takes on Northwestern. But rather than focusing on their last home meet as Badgers, the men’s and women’s team will continue to keep focus on the remainder of the season.
Early success, continued awards
The swim and dive team found early success in the season by earning the win in their first dual meet against UW-Milwaukee. The women’s swim team was able to win all 13 events, finishing the night off with a 166-66 lead over Milwaukee. The men’s side was able to cap the night off with a 146-84 win.
The dominating results over Milwaukee led Wisconsin to be awarded two titles. Sophomore Daniel Lester was awarded the Big Ten swimmer of the week award alongside fellow sophomore Michael Ross, who was named the Big Ten diver of the week for his first place finishes in the 1-meter and 3-meter competition.
But they didn’t win the award just once. Lester and Ross were awarded the same titles the following week. With a pair of athletes earning consecutive Big Ten swimmer of the week and Big Ten diver of the week titles, Lester and Ross tied a previous record set in 2002-2003 by swimmers at Michigan State.
But Ross is diving too well to stop there. He picked up one more Big Ten Swimmer of the Week award, bringing his season total to three and career total to four. The four honors match the UW record.
Sophomore Ashley Wanland and standout freshman Rebecka Palm can also call themselves Big Ten Swimmer of the Week within just five weeks of the season.
“I was surprised,” Palm said of the award after flawless meet against Minnesota. “I didn’t really know what that was, and didn’t know that I was chosen as swimmer of the week until other swimmers told me. I wasn’t aware of it at all … It’s always exciting.”
Emphasis on time, not place
Although the men’s team is finding individual success, the team isn’t earning the ‘W’ at all their dual meets. Lester notes, however, that it is more important to see individual swimmers improving their time.
“Everyone’s striving to get up to the top. The place things aren’t so important; it’s more about the times we’re looking at,” Lester said. “We’re swimming very tired. Some teams rest for some events, some don’t, and same with us. It’s more about times at this point in the season, and everyone’s looking really good.”
Northwestern competition
Last year against Northwestern, Wisconsin had split results. The men’s swim and dive team outscored their opponent 153-144, while the women’s 143 points wasn’t enough to overcome the 157 points Northwestern earned.
In order for this weekend to result in a double-win for Wisconsin, the same attention to detail and sharp races must be prevalent, as it has been the past five weeks.
“We’re going to have to definitely be on our ‘A’ game, be as sharp as we have been all season,” Meyer said. “Northwestern has a great program and they’re definitely going to be tough, but I think if our girls all swim to the potential that they can swim right now, I think that we definitely have a great chance of taking away the win.”