Wisconsin Swimming and Diving Teams Prepare for Texas Invite
November 29, 2001 | Men's Swimming & Diving
The Wisconsin men's and women's swimming and diving teams arrived in Austin, Texas, Thursday afternoon in preparation for the 2001 Texas Invitational. The Badgers practiced Thursday night, and will compete at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center this weekend.
'Coaches' and swimmers' expectations are high. The swimmers are ready to step up to the plate and I believe a few school records will be broken this weekend,' head coach Eric Hansen said. 'I feel we will walk away with a strong NCAA contingent for both men and women.'
On the men's side, the competition includes No. 2 Texas, No. 4 USC, No. 5 Auburn, No. 6 California, No. 8 Arizona, No. 9 Michigan, No. 13 Arizona State, No. 18 SMU, No. 23 Harvard and TCU. The UW men's swimmers are ranked No. 14.
On the women's side, the No. 15 Badgers will face No. 1 Stanford, No. 3 USC, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Arizona, No. 6 Texas, No. 7 California, No. 11 Arizona State, No. 23 Rice, Nebraska and TCU.
The University of Arizona did not travel divers, but other divers from Hawaii, Houston, SMU, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M will join divers from the schools listed above at the Texas Invite. Twin sisters Megan Kernan and two-time Big Ten Diver of the Week Siobhan Kernan lead the Badgers on the boards.
'Our divers will face NCAA-caliber competition this weekend and it gives them the chance to perform and compete at the highest level,' diving coach Lee-Jay Strifler said.
The Texas Invitational is a three-day event that spans from Friday, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2.
