Jan. 28, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

COLUMBIA, Mo. -

Continuing their march to the Big 12 Championships, the Tigers will head to the land of golden domes and Touchdown Jesus for a matchup with three schools in Notre Dame's Shamrock Invitational. The hosting Irish, Denver Pioneers and Iowa Hawkeyes will all do battle against the Tigers and eachother in a meet that will score points using a championship-style format spread out over three sessions Friday and Saturday.

 

Last Time Out

Four women Tiger swimmers earned multiple victories over Iowa State last weekend in Ames, led by Big 12 Swimmer of the Week Colleen Gordon, who set a pool record in one of her two victories on the weekend. Dominique Bouchard, Rachel Ripley and Lisa Nathanson also took home two victories, as the Tigers defeated the Cyclones 190-105. Similar to the way Mizzou dominated Arkansas two weeks ago, the team won 12 events on the day, including having multiple races where Missouri swimmers were in the top two spots or scattered across the top five.

 

The Meet

The Fighting Irish men's and women's teams head into the showdown both receiving votes in the latest College Swimming/CSCAA poll, as the men have a 4-4 overall dual record, while the women are a deceiving 0-4 in dual matchups this year. On the men's side, MacKenzie LeBlanc to give the Tigers a run in the 200 fly and 500 free, while Kim Holden has the fastest and second fastest time in the Big East in the 200 and 100 back for the women.

 

Iowa may pose the biggest threat to the Tiger men this weekend, as the Hawkeye men head into the meet with a 6-1 dual record this year, and 3-1 record against Big Ten schools. The Iowa women are 5-4 on the year, and 2-3 against conference opponents, including a loss to in-state rival Iowa State. Paul Gordon will give Iowa a chance in the 100 and 200 free, where he holds the collegiate best mark this year in the 100 free, swimming a 45.01. Katarina Tour will be one of the women's top threat in both the breast and individual medley races.

 

Denver is currently the ninth rated mid-major team in the latest polls, and will be looking to make a big splash against three solid major programs. Look for Scott Madras, Clay Meyers and Cody Stambaugh to be tough on the men's side, while Olivia Dean will be a challenge on the women's side.

 

The meet will begin on Friday at 6 p.m. EST with the first session, with the entire event scored live at http://www.und.com/sports/m-swim/spec-rel/nd-swim-shamrock-invite-2010.html