Feb. 14, 2008

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Welcome to "Q&A With The Captains," a continuing weekly segment that features a question-and-answer style interview with one of Mizzou men's swimming and diving's team captains. This week we sit down with senior co-captain Joe Wilson.

The team just finished the dual season at 12-2, which is the best record any men's team has compiled since Head Coach Brian Hoffer took over 16 years ago. To what do you attribute the team's success this year?

I really just attribute it to the degree of closeness that the team has now. In my time here it's never been like this. We're closer than we've ever been. We're up and cheering for each other more than ever before. That's one of the best things that our team has. When it comes to a meet we're just loud and obnoxious. We take a lot of other people out of their comfort zone when we start doing that.

Next up for you guys is the Big 12 Championships in Austin. What will the team be doing over the next couple of weeks to prepare for conference?

We'll begin tapering during these couple of weeks, so we'll take some time to rest. We'll be able to go as fast as we possibly can and not be tired going into conference. People will be coming off weights and drylands won't be as intense. The swimming that we do won't be the same volume, but it'll be the same intensity. We'll be doing things that simulate our races.

Is there anything you in particular will be focusing on heading into conference?

I really need to keep my front-end speed up in the 200 back, which is a lot easier for me to do in practice. I just need to make sure I don't let the pressure get to me in a race.

The team is on a roll heading into conference. How big of a factor will this momentum be for you guys heading into Austin?

I think this year is our best chance in history to beat A&M. With the momentum and skill we have right now, everything is going right for us. This is our best shot to do it.

Has the team ever beaten A&M at conference?

No, it's never been done before.

How often would you say you think about Big 12s?

More often now that it's February. Even when we came back from training trip I still wasn't thinking about it. Until the last dual meet is done I can't think about conference. Every now and then I'd have a daydream about it, but I get brought back down to earth pretty quickly.

Does thinking about conference bring about a lot of pressure?

For some people it brings a lot more pressure than others. All my daydreams tend to be pretty fantastic and don't really involve any worries about whether I'll screw up or race fast. I have Big 12 dreams all the time it seems like. I daydream a lot.

What works for you in a race?

One of our old grad assistants, Dane Pedersen, gave me an award freshman year for best smile. He said when he was behind the blocks he'd shake out his arms and legs and try to look as intimidating as possible. I've actually seen other guys who practically beat themselves up before going out there trying to get themselves psyched up. I can't do that kind of stuff. That's where this whole smile thing came from. During my first collegiate meet I was smiling and laughing behind the blocks. The rest of the team looked at me and was like, "What's wrong with this kid." I'm just happy behind the blocks because I'm doing what I love.

What are your goals for conference?

This year one of my goals was to make the scoring team for conference, which I did for the first time this season. I'm pretty happy about that. I'd also like to finish out my career with lifetime bests, like anyone would. I want to beat Texas A&M, too, although you're probably sick of me talking about that.

What kinds of emotion were you feeling on Senior Day against Iowa?

I was all over the place. It was really cool to be recognized for my four years here. It was cool to stand out on the bulkheads with my parents and have that moment where everyone claps and all that stuff. I was also really sick that day, so mostly I was trying to focus on standing up and not falling over.

How did it feel to race in your last dual against Drury on Friday?

It was quite the place to end my dual career because it's remarkably similar to what our old pool looked like. It was a throwback and I felt oddly comfortable there. There were different spots where you couldn't see under the water because the lighting was so bad and the walls so dark. It was fun going out with a win, too.

What legacy has this year's senior class left on the team?

We're the last of the old guys. We're the last ones who actually swam and trained in the old pool. I feel like we're the last ones who knew what it was like before we had everything that we do now. We're the last ones to know what it's like to train in a hard environment. We didn't come into a place that had a lot of fancy things like we do now. We're the old-timers. We went to school uphill both ways in a foot of snow with no shoes.

Looking back, what is your favorite memory from your four years on the team?

I can't pick one as of right now because we haven't beat Texas A&M at conference yet. Come back and talk to me in a couple weeks.

As I'm sure you know, Michael Phelps broke a world record in the 200 fly at last year's Grand Prix. How many records do you think will fall at this year's event?

I'd be willing to say that if there's a record at this pool it's got a good shot of being broken this weekend.