Oct. 14, 2009
Brian Hoffer, Head Coach
On the upcoming Big 12 Relays:
“We're going to be challenged. Texas is a very good team. They have a lot of depth, and a couple of Olympians, and so we feel like we're going to have some big challenges. When I made the schedule, we wanted to have something to find out how good we could be. This is a great way to start the season, with two Big 12 competitions—both Texas and Texas A&M. It'll be a nice challenge for us.”
On what the Show-Me Showdown taught him about the team:
“I think on the men's team I learned that we're young, and we need to get some work done. Most of the team are freshmen and sophomores, and I think in the early season we'll see where they're at a little bit. I think as the season goes on, this team is going to be very good. For the women, I learned that the freshmen are very talented. They were actually able to step up and win some events. I think this women's team is going to be very good—it's going to be a challenge for them this weekend, but overall our focus is on February and the Big 12 Championship. We'll kind of see what happens along the way, but we'll have some good races along the way.”
On the depth of the women's roster:
“I think we'll go not just one deep—we might go three deep in each event. If you look at our freestyle we're pretty deep, and certainly in our breaststroke—we have five different breaststrokers that can step up and win. The backstroke is also very solid for us. We have a few weaknesses, but I feel like overall depending on who our competition is we can be aggressive and race right along with teams in the top 20 and maybe in the top 10—we'll find out this weekend.”
On senior All-American transfer Kim Jasmer:
“I think she brings a confidence. When she comes in, she's already done this and been there and I think with our pretty young team—graduating 12 out—she's going to bring something to the table that you can't have most times, unless you have a senior in the program. She's been to NCAA's, she's been to the Olympic Trials, and she's been to those big meets. We've had some pretty good transfers, but not to her degree before.”
On the women's team mentality:
“They seem to be very focused. They really seem to be excited about this weekend, and they seem to be pretty into what was going on. Even last weekend, which was not a big focus weekend, they were able to really step up and race really fast. I'm really excited to see what they're going to do against this competition.”
On the strength of the team:
“I don't think we can highlight any one person, and I think that's the strength of this team. We have a lot of people that can really come in and contribute and compete at a very high level. We'll see how it all shakes out, but I think on any given weekend any athlete could win a meet for us. For me that's really exciting as a head coach—to have a lot of options.”
Lauren Lavigna, Free/Back
On whether there is a home pool advantage:
“I think so. You know what the bottom of the pool looks like, you get used to the T's and you get used to the flags and the crowd also really helps too.”
On the weekend's competition:
“I'm just looking forward to getting to race at home in front of a big crowd, and getting to step up against Texas and [Texas] A&M. They're great schools, and I think we have a chance to beat them. We're just getting our girls excited, and getting to swim.”
On the depth of the team:
“We've got a great freshman class in which just adds to our depth even more. Every event we're pretty strong in, so they're isn't anything that we're weak in which is good.”
On All-American transfer Kim Jasmer:
“We got really lucky getting her. She fits right in and helps us. She's an NCAA qualifier, and she will help us out a lot. We're really lucky to get her… she's fit in great so far.”
Jordan Hawley, Sprint Free
On how the team is preparing for competition:
“We've got a pretty heavy training week this week. It's going to be pretty tough for us… we're really pushing it. The ladies start their swimming Thursday, and so we'll obviously be here supporting them too. It's a tough week for us. In the weight room especially, we're getting hit pretty hard. Yesterday we ran stadiums, and so we were out there for a half hour in the cold, but it's what you've got to do if you want to get the results at the end of the season that we're hoping to get.”
On not having any NCAA competitors last year:
“It was a disappointment, for me especially, not being able to get into the NCAA's. It's a focal point for us this year. I know we have a young team, but at the same time I want to be able to get people at the big show—that's what it's all about. In football you have the BCS bowls, and for us this is kind of our BCS bowl game. This is really what we're aiming for. We're trying to get a relay there, but it's going to be tough. We have a lot of freshmen, and a lot of sophomores. We only have one senior swimmer, and four or five junior swimmers. It is a young, young team.”
On the young team:
“It's been a big change for us. Last year we had a ton of seniors and a lot of leadership, and this year it's really changed. We have younger guys who were followers last year becoming leaders this year, so it's different. I think the leadership that we have this year, however, is well able to handle the situation.”