After nearly two and a half months of practice, the No. 4 Arizona men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams get their seasons underway today at 2 p.m. against Wisconsin’s No. 16 women’s team and unranked men’s squad at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center.
“”We’re excited,”” said UA head coach Frank Busch. “”They’re ready to do something special. We’ve been working since Aug. 20, so we’re ready to go.””
Both UA
We want people racing well in their first races of the year. Our kids look forward to competition – they don’t fear it, they embrace it.
— Frank Busch,
head coach
teams are coming off hugely successful campaigns. The women finished second at this year’s NCAA Championships, while the men took third.
Key returners from those squads include individual NCAA champions Albert Subirats and Darian Townsend – both seniors – junior Nicolas Nilo and sophomore Jean Basson on the men’s side, and senior Lacey Nymeyer for the women.
Busch likes the 2007-2008 teams’ chances to maintain their levels of achievement.
“”We’re confident,”” he said. “”We want people racing well in their first races of the year. Our kids look forward to competition – they don’t fear it, they embrace it.””
The biggest strength of the teams, Busch said, is that there is no specific strength.
“”We’re a pretty level-talented group,”” he said. “”We’re well balanced and well talented.””
Arizona will open its seventh straight season against the Badgers, with the Wildcats winning all but one of the 12 matches in the schools’ all-time series.
The squads have often opened against one another because of the close ties between the UA program and the Wisconsin
coaching staff.
Badgers head coach Eric Hansen is a former Arizona assistant coach under Busch and attended graduate school at the university. Wisconsin assistant coach Geoff Hanson is also a UA alumnus, having served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Wildcats.
“”I like to see them,”” Busch said. “”We have a great friendship.””
