Oct. 21, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. -
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For the first time in head coach Brian Hoffer's 13-year tenure, the Missouri men's swimming and diving team found itself ranked when the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) released its first polls of the season on Thursday, Oct. 20. The Tiger men find themselves tied for 23rd with Alabama, while the women return to the rankings at No. 20 after a one-year hiatus from the polls.
"To have both teams ranked is something we haven't done since I've been here," Hoffer said. "It's something we've worked for and that we hoped would happen. It's nice to be recognized among the top men's and women's teams in the country."
The Mizzou women (0-1-1, 0-1-1 Big 12) stormed into the nation's top-20 on the strength of a 121-121 tie with defending Big 12 champion Texas (No. 7 in the season's first poll), a first-place finish at the Show-Me-Showdown and a third-place effort at the Big 12 Relays. The Tigers' only loss came at the hands of No. 10 Texas A&M in their third meet in as many days.
The women ended the 2003-04 dual campaign ranked 22nd in the country, but were unable to crack the polls last season.
"What people are seeing is a big improvement in our women's team," Hoffer said. "We've started to put everything together and become a balanced team. We're a good team and, on any given, we are capable of beating other good teams."
With its appearance in the polls at No. 23, the Mizzou men's team (1-0, 1-0) continues to make history in 2005-06. The year started with a dramatic win at the Show-Me-Showdown and continued with the program's first-ever runner-up showing at the Big 12 Relays. In their only dual meet so far this season, the Tigers again made history by defeating Texas A&M (RV) for their first conference dual win since the Big 12 realigned to its current three-team format.
"There are some very good teams right around us in the polls," Hoffer said. "We don't have another dual meet for a while, so we'll need to rely on solid performances at the Purdue and Texas invites to maintain our spot. This is a big step for our program, and it's one we've worked very hard for since last spring."
The Mizzou women will hit the water again Friday, Oct. 28, when they travel to Lawrence, Kan., to take on the rival Kansas Jayhawks in a matchup with Border Showdown ramifications. The men don't return to action until Nov. 18, when both Tiger squads travel to West Lafayette, Ind., for the Purdue Invite.