Jayhawks open 2018-19 season in double dual fashion

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas swimming and diving welcomes Missouri State and South Dakota to Robinson Natatorium for a double dual meet Friday and Saturday, October 12-13.
 
The double-dual format meet will feature 19 events spread across two days, with Friday’s session beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the final session on Saturday at noon.
 
Prior to Saturday’s plunge, the senior class trio consisting of Haley Bishop, Cassaundra Pino and Taylor Sieperda will be honored for their contributions to the program over the past four years.
 
“It will be good because we have had some competitive opportunities already this year,” head coach Clark Campbell said. “We had the open water swim which is really different and the alumni meet which is way different, and now this is a real modified collegiate competition where it is a dual meet in the pool. It will be a good early season test for us.”
 
With a few fun competitions under their belt, the swimmers look forward to getting their first taste collegiate racing this season.
 
Campbell keeps a standard build-up for each race as well as looking at the entire season from this point on so each swimmer and diver can grasp the perfect formula for their own success.
 
“I tell the team that each of these dual meets are opportunities to practice and get yourself ready to preform at a really high level,” Campbell said. “They are looking at it from how are they going to warm up, how they are going to eat, rest and what their academic plans are. They have hundreds of decisions they have to make and so they have to learn what is going to be the best recipe for them moving forward.”
 
With a mix of nerves and excitement, the team is ready to take on the Coyotes and the Bears with high energy to get the 2018-19 season off on the right foot.
 
Each class will experience this dual a bit differently. Prior to Saturday’s official start, the three seniors will be honored in front of their friends and family as they have their last ‘first’ as a collegiate athlete.
 
“We have been very happy with all (the seniors) have brought to the program both in and out of the water,” Campbell said. “We do it early in the season for a couple of reasons. One is because it allows us to make every meet a celebration of our seniors, not just the last meet. It also, from a family standpoint, is a lot easier traveling to Kansas in October than January or February. So from just a logistics standpoint and getting a chance to celebrate them each and every meet throughout the course of the season, that is we have an early senior meet.”
 
Fans are encouraged to cheer on the seniors and their teammates both Friday and Saturday at Robinson Natatorium with free admission. Fans who plan to attend are encouraged to park in Lot 90.
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