Kansas Swimming and Diving Departs for Border Showdown

Oct. 26, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas swimming and diving team will head due east Friday to take on the Missouri Tigers in the annual Border Showdown at the Mizzou Aquatics Center in Columbia, Mo.

Last season, the Jayhawks and Tigers met in Lawrence at the Robinson Natatorium. KU pulled out a 175-125 win over then #20 Mizzou, its first win over MU in six years. The victory was a momentum booster for Kansas, pushing the Jayhawks into the CSCAA Top-25 Division I poll for the first time since 1997. At the meet, then freshman Ashley Leidigh shattered the Robinson pool record in the 100-yard butterfly, leading to her National Swimmer of the Week accolades by CollegeSwimming.com.

This year, the Jayhawks enter Tiger territory at 2-0 after record-breaking defeats against Nebraska-Omaha, 220-79, and South Dakota State, 221-71. At the double-dual meet against UNO and SDS, junior Lauren Bonfe and sophomore Maria Mayrovich broke Nebraska-Omaha pool records in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle, respectively. Kansas also walked away with first-place victories in every event of the contest.

The Tigers enter the Border Showdown with one Big 12 competition already under their belt. Missouri fell to Big 12 opponent Texas A&M, 181-101, October 14.

The Showdown, sponsored by Midwest Ford dealers, is set to kick off in Columbia at 6 p.m. Friday. Complete results following the dual can be found on kuathletics.com.

-KU-