Kansas Heads to Arizona for Season-Opening Weekend

Oct. 14, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas swimming and diving will open its 2008-09 season this weekend in Arizona with two dual meets. The University of Kansas will open with Arizona State on Friday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. (Pacific) in Tempe, Ariz. Kansas will then travel north on I-17 to Flagstaff, Ariz., for a Saturday morning dual at Northern Arizona scheduled for 9 a.m. (Pacific).

Last year, Arizona State finished the season ranked 17th with a 9-5 dual meet record. Arizona State placed sixth at the 2008 Pac-10 Championships. ASU’s home facility, the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, is located outdoors.

“We’re excited about getting on the road,” said head coach Clark Campbell. “The team that is going has earned their travel spots to Arizona. Friday will be a very tough meet. Arizona State is a perennial top-15 program. It will be a great and challenging way to kickoff the duel meet season with Arizona State. We get to swim outdoors, which isn’t something we get to do all the time.”

On Saturday Kansas will face the Northern Arizona Lumberjack swimming and diving team. Last year, NAU placed second in the Western Athletic Conference and ended the season with a 9-5 dual meet record despite not being ranked.

“They (NAU) will be a team that will be ready to be very competitive with us and it will be at 7,000 feet so we also have to be ready for the altitude,” Campbell said.

“We’re going to rely heavily on our leaders in each of our events. Danielle Herrmann is setting up for a great senior year. Maria Mayrovich in the sprint free, Ashley Leidigh in the butterfly and our new backstroker, Iuliia Kuzhil, in the 100 and 200 back will all be counted on to come through and perform well.”

Kansas will return home for its home-opener on Oct. 23 in a dual against Big 12 foe, Texas A&M. The Jayhawks will then host the Big 12 for its fall relay meet on Friday, Oct. 24.

Please check back with kuathletics.com for the latest news and results regarding the swimming and diving team.