Feb. 22, 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 junior co-captain Jake Hoffmann.
Next up for you guys is the Big 12 Championships in Austin. What is the mood among you and your teammates with the meet only a week away?
Coach Hoffer asked us this same question and I think we're just really excited. The Grand Prix this past weekend was a good distraction for us. We had some really fast swims and didn't have time to worry about Big 12s. I think we're very excited and really not all that nervous.
What do you tell a freshman who isn't sure what to expect?
Just to treat it like any meet and not change their race strategy. We need to go out there and race. We also need to have fun and be a little bit more excited because it is a big meet. There's no reason to worry about the crowd. We need to worry about ourselves and having fun.
Is there anything you in particular are focusing on to prepare for conference?
I'm trying to take this week as normally as possible. I'm not trying to think about the meet too much. You can get too caught up in over thinking it so it's important to focus on the little things like my technique in the water and my starts and turns. I try not to worry about times as much.
You guys have won five of six duals in 2008. How big of a factor will the team's momentum be heading into Austin?
It will be a big factor. We finished with the best dual meet record in program history. We have one of the best teams to have ever swum here at Mizzou and definitely the best team since I've been here.
The team beat Texas A&M in a dual matchup earlier this season. What can you take from that meet that will help you prepare for another meeting with A&M at conference?
They're beatable. Beating them at the dual meet is a plus, but our biggest team goal is to beat them at conference.
The team has never beat A&M before at Big 12's. How confident are you in beating the Aggies this time around?
I'm extremely confident. They're going to win some races against us, particularly in the sprint events, but our depth is tremendous and we are better than them in quite a few strokes. Our diving will be very strong, too. We're just going to race them and see what happens from there.
How often would you say you think about conference?
If you look at the year as a whole, conference is the peak. It's always at the back of your mind and you are always trying to be the best you can be come this time of year. You just can't worry about it too much though because nerves aren't what you want. It's best to be relaxed. Overall, conference is a motivator and helps us train better.
Does thinking about it bring about a lot of pressure?
Yes, it brings about a lot much pressure if you over think it and get bogged down thinking about times and having to win races. I honestly believe if we go out there and swim our races and dive well, then we will beat A&M. The talent is definitely there.
What are your goals for conference this year?
I want to go best times. I always shoot for best times and constantly improving. That's really what it's all about for me other than performing well as a team.
You swam in the 200 back at this weekend's Missouri Grand Prix. What did you do differently to train for a long-course event?
We trained a lot of long course at the beginning of the season and mid-season, so I felt really confident in long course swimming. We swim mostly short course, and long course is a pretty big adjustment. I went out there and didn't think about it too much. I just got up and swam. I went a second off my best, unshaved and not fully rested. I was really happy with that. It's a huge confidence-builder going into conference for me.
What was it like swimming in the same event as world-record holder Ryan Lochte and Olympic gold medalist Aaron Peirsol?
It's a lot more exciting when you swim against that caliber of athlete. It's like going out and playing LeBron James in basketball or the Patriots in football. It brings out the best in you. You want to be there and see if you can go up against them.
You ended up finishing 20th in the event. Were you pleased with your finish?
I was very happy. Like I said, I finished a second off my best, not shaved and not having honestly trained a whole lot of long course over the last month.
What does the Grand Prix do for the program and for Mizzou?
For the university, in general, it just brings about more attention to the school. It also gets the community involved with what's going on, which is always a plus. It's great having 20 Olympians at a meet and then having two world records and a couple of American records fall. All of this is great publicity for our sport, our pool and our program.