Jan. 12, 2005
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri men's and women's swimming and diving teams will begin the new year with two meets in two days. The first meet takes them to Truman State to do battle with the Bulldogs of Truman State and the Coyotes of South Dakota. The meet begins at 5 p.m. Friday at the Truman State Natatorium in Kirksville, Mo.
The Bulldog men are 2-2 on the season while the women are 1-2 and coming off a loss to fellow Big 12 school Nebraska. Last year the women won the NCAA Division II national championship.
"This meet I am looking for our team to perform to my expectations," Missouri Head Coach Brian Hoffer said. "I want us to be better on the technical parts of swimming- the turns and starts especially."
The Tigers will begin their 2005 home season against in state rival Southwest Missouri State at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the MU Natatorium. Admission to the meet is free. The men's team will look to avenge a 132.5 to 110.5 loss last January in Springfield, Mo.
The Missouri men's team will once again look to diver Evan Watters. Watters last time out set a MU pool record on the 3-meter board surpassing diving coach Jamie Sweeney's record from 2003. The last time Waters dove against the Bears of SMS he set a MU and SMS pool record.
"Their men's team is really good, and we have a hard time matching up with them," Hoffer said. "However, on the women's side they are improving even with the streak, it will be a lot of fun."
For the women they look to continue their winning ways, as they try to stretch their dual meet winning streak to three. Last year against SMS the women took a decisive 160.5 to 77.5 victory. The women left Springfield last year not only with a victory but also with several SMS pool records.
The women's team currently has a consecutive dual winning streak of seven against SMS and will look to extend their domination of the series.
The women enter these meets with a 2-1 record and 1-1 in conference after beating the Southern Illinois- Carbondale last time out. The men are 1-1 and 0-1 in Big 12 action. The men earned their first dual meet victory last time out against the SIU-C Salukis.