Mens Swimming: Busy weekend ahead for Irish
By: LISA REIJULA
Sports Writer
While many students are struggling to readjust to the cold temperatures in South Bend, Notre Dame's mens swimming and diving team might be having a harder time than most. The Irish swimmers were in sunny Acapulco, Mexico, for a training camp in the beginning of January.
The trip provided the Irish a chance to gain renewed enthusiasm and focus while training in a different environment.
"It was nice to get away for awhile," freshman Tyler Grenda said. "We had a lot of fun and had the chance to really work together as a team."
The Irish (5-3) have not competed since their Dec. 7 victory in the Notre Dame Invitational. The team will be back in action and on the road this weekend.
The first stop for Notre Dame will be the University of Pennsylvania (1-3) on Friday. The Irish face the Quakers in Philadelphia, where the home team won their first meet Jan.11 against Army.
The Irish will stay in Philadelphia and compete against Big East rivals Villanova and Pittsburgh Saturday at Villanova. Like Notre Dame, Villanova is coming off its own 10-day training camp in Puerto Rico.
The 19th-ranked Panthers, last year's conference champion, looks to be the toughest challenge for the Irish in the upcoming weekend.
The Panthers are 3-3 on the season, with losses to No. 14 Purdue, No. 17 Harvard, and previously ranked Washington. They won their Big East opener, easily defeating West Virginia 185-58.
Pittsburgh finds its greatest strength in the relay events, particularly the 200 freestyle. Like their counterparts, the Irish relay teams have also been performing well all season, which could result in some very competitive races.
"Pitt is a strong team, and it will be a good taste of what we have to do to get ready [for the Big East championships]," Grenda said. "We're ready to race again and swim hard two days in a row."
All Sports Stories for Friday, January 17, 2003
