Jayhawks Head to Ames Looking to Close out Regular Season on High Note

Coach Campbell previews ISU

Feb. 2, 2012

AMES, Iowa – The Kansas swimming and diving team will take on a familiar opponent this weekend as they travel to Ames, Iowa to compete against the Iowa State Cyclones. Kansas (5-4) (0-1) on the year, holds an all-time series advantage of 24-2 over their neighbors to the North, having not dropped a dual meet to them since the 2002-03 season.

The Jayhawks enter the match-up hoping to post their second dual meet win of the calendar year, and even their conference record before the Big 12 Championships later this month.

“It has been a quick season,” said head coach Clark Campbell. “We are looking to get in those last couple of races to sharpen up our performance and take some momentum into the championships.”

Before Campbell and his squad look ahead to their four day trip to Columbia, Mo. (Feb. 22-25), they will be intently focused on their two day trip to Ames this coming weekend. The dual meet will be broken up into two days of competition, with the first events kicking off Friday at 6 p.m., and the final day’s action starting early at 10 a.m., Saturday.

“The first day, we are going to be competing right off the bus,” Campbell explained. “We have a five hour long bus trip, then have to get off and race at a high level. The next day, the challenge is going to be competing early in the morning. Part of the reason we have them at the times we do is that it is very similar to Big 12’s.”

The time and the travel won’t be the only obstacles standing in the Jayhawks’ way, as a revved up Cyclone squad will be celebrating senior day at their home pool.

“They will be hyped up,” Campbell thought. “It will be a tough challenge for us, both days.”

Even though KU’s crop of seniors had their final home meet last month, Campbell knows all four will be anxious to get into the water and end their regular season on a high note.

“This will be their last collegiate dual meet, so they will want to finish strong,” he said. “But I think everybody (on the team) wants to be able to take something out of this meet, which we can draw on for momentum in the upcoming championship run.”

Also looking to draw upon some of their past success this season are KU’s two divers. Both Christy Cash and Alyssa Golden have diving coach Eric Elliott pleased with his duo’s progression thus far.

“Last week they showed me a lot,” Elliott said. “Christy is making some corrections and Alyssa is getting some new dives, so I am just amazed at where they are at.”

Both Cash and Golden have already qualified for NCAA Zones earlier this year, with their performances against Nebraska-Omaha, Nov. 19. Cash earned lifetime best scores in two events that day, while Golden compiled one.

“I am really looking forward to the Iowa State meet and I think they are going to start showing some consistency,” Elliott thought.

The Cyclones enter the match-up, carrying a 4-3 record, searching for their second win of the 2012 calendar year. They have beaten Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State and Nebraska-Omaha so far this season, while dropping duals to Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.

Iowa State shares four common opponents with the Jayhawks in 2011-12, holding a 2-2 record against Northern Iowa, Nebraska-Omaha, Minnesota and Nebraska. Kansas boats a 3-1 mark against that same crop of schools, losing only to Minnesota 206-87, Oct. 21.

KU’s Big 12 rivals are a relatively young squad with only 5 of their 29 swimmers and divers competing in their final home meet over the weekend. Two divers comprise 40 percent of the senior corps in Jenn Botsch and Sarah Nelson. Mandi Caudle handles the sprint free and fly events, while Liz Holman can be found competing in the backstroke. The final ISU senior, is Meredith Doran, who is a middle distance swimmer.

The final regular season meet gets underway for KU gets underway Friday evening at 6 p.m. inside Beyer Pool. Log onto kuathletics.com for results, recaps and interviews following each day’s action.

Meet at a Glance…

Kansas vs. Iowa State
When: Fri. Feb. 3 6 p.m. / Sat. Feb 4 10 a.m.
Where: Beyer Pool, Ames, Iowa