The No. 1-ranked Arizona Wildcats will start competition for the Men’s Swimming NCAA Championship today in Federal Way, Wash.

Arizona has proven itself a dominant force in college swimming this year, remaining undefeated during the dual meet season with wins over top opponents such as Texas, USC and Stanford.

Senior captains Cory Chitwood, Kevin Munsch and Austen Thompson now try to lead their team to the ultimate goal, the National Championship, against teams they have competed against and beaten before.

The NCAA Championship competition will be the Wildcats’ first meet since the Pac-12 Championships, in which the Wildcats placed third behind No. 3 Stanford and No. 6 California.

Friday’s meet will begin with preliminary rounds in the events of 200-yard freestyle relay, 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relay. Along with the swimming events there will also be the one-meter diving trials.

The 200 individual medley is a strong event for Arizona as Chitwood holds the fastest time in the country, clocking in at 1.41.92. Joining Chitwood is Thompson, who currently has the fastest time in the 400 individual medley at 3.39.37.