Challenge awaits Badgers in the desert
November 06, 2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Nov. 6, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men's and women's swimming and diving squads will head to Tucson, Ariz., Friday for dual meets against Arizona and UNLV. Competition gets underway at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center at 3 p.m. (Central).
The Badgers come into the weekend after losses to Minnesota on the men's and women's sides last Friday.
| Wisconsin vs. UNLV | Wisconsin vs. Arizona | |
| Date | Friday, Nov. 6 | 3 p.m. |
| Location | Tucson, Ariz. | Hillenbrand Aquatic Center |
| UWBadgers.com | Complete results |
| Meet Notes | Men's Notes | Women's Notes |
Arizona begins its season against the Badgers, while the UNLV men's and women's teams have had two meets thus far, competing at BYU and Utah.
Last October, both Wisconsin teams fell to Arizona at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center, but after strong showings early in the season, the Badgers are heading back to the desert looking to avenge those losses.
The Badgers have faced off with Arizona in each of the past eight seasons, dating back to 2001. The Wildcats have claimed each of those matchups on the women's side, while the UW men's team's only win in the series is a 69-24 victory scored in November 2002.
Wisconsin head coach Eric Hansen, who will coach his 100th and 101st duals with the UW men's team on Friday, was an assistant at Arizona for three seasons prior to coming to Madison in 1999.
Through his first 99 dual meets, Hansen owns a career record of 60-39 (.606) in men's competition as the Badgers' mentor. Between men's and women's competition, Hansen is a combined 153-52 (.746) in dual meets in 10-plus seasons as head coach at UW.
UW assistant head coach Geoff Hanson also has ties to Arizona, as he competed for the Wildcats as a student-athlete and then served two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach before making the move to UW.
| Women's Preview |
The women's team has started off on the right foot this year, and has been clocking times that typically aren't seen until later in the season.
At last week's dual, against Minnesota, the 200-yard medley relay squad comprised of Maggie Meyer, Ashley Wanland, Karlyn Hougan and Beckie Thompson swam an NCAA championships qualifying time of 1:41.29, nearly two seconds faster than their time of 1:43.11 at last year's Arizona dual.
Arizona took first and second in the event last year, however, both of those times were slower than Wisconsin's mark last week.
The Wildcats will have to make up for the loss of freestyler and two-time NCAA individual champion Lara Jackson, who has exhausted her eligibility, along with several other All-Americans from last year's team. Arizona is two seasons removed from winning the 2008 NCAA championship.
Senior Ana Agy returns for Arizona this year, adding depth to their backstroke squad. At last year's meeting, however, UW's Meyer defeated Agy in the 100 back, swimming a time of 54.76 with Agy finishing at 55.41.
Meyer swam the 100 back in 54.13 at last week's dual against Minnesota, and will look to tally another NCAA qualifying mark to her list this weekend. She already has posted seven NCAA times between the 100 and 200 backstroke events, hitting the NCAA `B' standard in every backstroke race in which she's competed.
Wisconsin's other opponent this week, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels, have lost both duals they've competed in this year.
| Men's Preview |
The Wisconsin men's swimming and diving team will look to prove their worth against the Wildcats this weekend for their first away meet.
Arizona will open its slate knowing of last year's 173-126 win over the Badgers.
In last year's dual against the Wildcats, Wisconsin claimed wins in six events and also grabbed several close second-place finishes.
Graduates Scott Rice and Kyle Sorensen helped rack up points for Wisconsin last year in Tucson, but current Badgers Brett Nagle, Derrick O'Donnell, Phil Davies and Caleb Percevecz each had strong showings last year, and have continued to lead the team early this season.
Percevecz, who has already earned Big Ten Diver of the Week honors this year, took second in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives to current Arizona junior Ben Grado last year.
Nagle won the 500 free in Arizona last season, with a time of 4:37.02, and his season best so far this year is already close to that mark, at 4:37.54.
Davies also had a win against Arizona last year, taking the 100 free in 45.55. Wes Lagerhausen owns the Badgers' season-best time in the event thus far, swimming a time of 46.52 against Iowa.
The Wildcats men's team have historically been very strong, and they took sixth at last year's NCAA championships, after winning the 2008 national title. Arizona expects to be among the top four in the nation this year.
The UNLV men's team is undefeated this year, winning both its duals against BYU and Utah. The Rebels have won 12 of 16 events in each competition this year.
UNLV is the five-time defending Mountain West Conference champion and returns nearly every swimmer from its five record-setting relays in 2008-09.
