UW Hosts Lone Homestand of its Season
October 11, 2007 | Men's Swimming & Diving
The UW men's swimming and diving team will attempt to remain undefeated when they host Iowa today and UW-Milwaukee tomorrow for their only homestand of the season. Thursday's competition against Iowa will begin at 5 p.m. at the Natatorium in Madison. Friday's dual against UW-Milwaukee will also start at 5 p.m. at the Natatorium.
The Badgers (1-0), who convincingly defeated UW-Green Bay by a score of 159-77, carry high expectations for the season ahead.
'Our expectations are first and foremost, to get back into the top 20 (in the NCAAs) on both sides,' head coach Eric Hansen said. 'From there, it 's kind of an unknown. We're not going to worry about that. We worry about our day-to-day operations, and how each kid does business, and how each kid learns, and make sure they get what they need.'
Hansen continued, 'We have some young talent that I think is going to be heard from by the end of the year, and we also have some phenomenal upperclassmen.'
This statement from Hansen was backed up on Tuesday when the Big Ten announced that junior Scott Rice (Des Moines, Wash.) and freshman Caleb Percevecz (Scottsdale, Ariz.) were given the conference's two weekly awards. Upperclassman Rice claimed the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week award while newcomer Percevecz received Big Ten Diver of the Week honors.
On Thursday, Rice, Percevecz and the rest of Wisconsin's talented squad will make an effort to start of 1-0 in the Big Ten. The Badgers hope that history is able to repeat itself, as they hold a perfect 8-0 all-time record against the Hawkeyes. Last year, UW won the dual, 240-111, on Oct. 13 at Iowa.
On Friday, Wisconsin's focus will shift towards in-state rival UW-Milwaukee. Last year, at the Panther's facility in Milwaukee, Wis., on Oct. 14, the Badgers controlled UW-Milwaukee to the tune of a 295.5-55 victory.
In its only homestand of the year, UW will host Iowa on Thursday and UW-Milwaukee on Friday. Both duals will begin at 5 p.m. at the Natatorium in Madison.
