ND SWIMMING: Irish look to make a splash against 'Cats
By SHEILA EGTS
Sports Writer
The Irish seem as calm and serene as the undisturbed waters of the Rolfs Aquatic Center as they anticipate the dual meet competition against Big East opponent Villanova on Saturday.
The men's swimming and diving team has not competed against Villanova since the Big East Championships last spring where they beat them soundly.
"We finished ahead of them [Villanova] last spring at the Big East. We like to swim in our pool and to be honest, I think we have the advantage going in," said men's head coach Tim Welsh.
With only three dual meets remaining until the Big East, both teams are very interested in preparing for the Big East and landing invitations to the competition, according to Welsh. However, the women's team's main focus is on its more difficult dual meets against Northwestern and Michigan.
According to sophomore Marie Labosky, the women's team is confident in its advantage against Villanova and plans to swim to win, but not necessarily for fast times.
The biggest threat to the women's team is Villanova's lead swimmer, Maddy Crippen, who finished sixth in the 400 meter intermediate at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Labosky, who has swam and trained with Crippen since the eighth grade, will swim against her in the 400 intermediate. Labosky last swam Crippen in this even last spring at the Big East where she finished second to Crippen.
"I respect Maddy more than any athlete as she is one of the best in the country in her event," said Labosky. "I trained with her over Christmas break again, and I know her weaknesses and strengths. I don't want to go in and say I'm going to lose, but it should be fun to see what happens."
The men's and women's meets both begin at Rolfs Aquatic Center at 4 p.m.
All Sports Stories for Friday, January 25, 2002
