Swimming and Diving Heads to Missouri for Border Showdown
Oct. 30, 2008
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas swimming and diving will head east along I-70 for its first Big 12 conference dual away from Robinson Natatorium as it faces the Missouri Tigers. The 2-1 Jayhawks are scheduled to face No. 18 Missouri at 2 p.m., at the Mizzou Aquatic Center on Saturday.
Last weekend, Kansas and Missouri squared-off against one another at the Big 12 Relays. At the end of the Big 12 Relays, the teams tied for third with 62 points. However, Kansas and Missouri have had one common opponent this season, No. 9 Texas A&M. Missouri fell the to the Aggies 135-104, while Kansas lost 133-106.
“A&M and Texas are very good as usual,” said Kansas head coach Clark Campbell. “It will be us and Mizzou duking it out for the Big 12 North. It’s about where I thought it would play out.”
Missouri, 0-1, on the season, won the Show Me Showdown meet in Columbia, Mo. The Tigers defeated Drury, Lindenwood, Washington Univ., and Stephens at the home meet. Last year, Missouri finished the season with a 13-1 dual meet record and ranked 23rd.
“It’s going to be a very interesting meet,” said Campbell. “It always is when it is a rival. They (Missouri) swim very well at home. We’ll be on the road, but we proved when we went to Arizona State that we can be a good road team. We need to be on this Saturday if we want to come away with a victory.”
Kansas will be looking to redeem themselves against the Tigers, as Mizzou escaped with a 162-138 victory in last year’s Border Showdown. As of Thursday, Kansas and Missouri are tied with 1.5 points in the Border Showdown. However, 6.5 points are up for grabs this weekend, including 1.5 points for the swimming and diving dual.
Hoping to lead the Jayhawks to a Border Showdown victory are the Kansas divers led by Erin Mertz. Mertz, along with fellow divers, Hannah McMacken and Meghan Proehl, have become one of the team’s strengths. Last weekend at the Big 12 Relays, Kansas was able to come away with the top spot in the 1m competition.
“Our divers have been doing great,” said Campbell. “They have been developing consistency. I think both with swimming and diving, the key is being consistent. Their training is carrying over to their competition. Eric (Elliott) has done a great job of coaching all three (KU divers). They are definitely a strength of our team.”
Kansas’ next home dual is scheduled for Friday Nov., 7 against Drury, at 6 p.m. Kansas will also host the Evansville Purple Aces the following day at 2 p.m.
