How long can a Badger tread water?
That’s what the Northwestern swimming teams look to find out Thursday when they travel to Madison for dual meets with Wisconsin.
The No. 13 NU Men’s team is certain to be favored against the host Badgers. Wisconsin (4-3, 1-1 Big Ten) most recently suffered losses to Southern Illinois and Indiana in a lackluster 1-2 outing, its only win coming against Louisville.
Meanwhile, for NU, (2-2, 1-1 Big Ten) junior Mike Alexandrov is the reigning Big Ten Co-Swimmer of the Week. Alexandrov, who has captured the award three times during his college career, won both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke and the 200 individual medley in last week’s double duel meet. He also recorded NCAA ‘B’ standard times in all three races, the first Wildcat to do so this year.
On the women’s side, the Cats are coming off a split in a double-dual with Michigan State and Purdue. NU (2-1, 1-1 Big Ten) defeated the Spartans 197-103 but fell to the Boilermakers 208-92 at Purdue’s home pool.
The Cats will also be without sophomore Carrera Harris and junior diver Leanne Dumais, so Coach Jimmy Tierney is looking to the rest of his team to step up. Senior Katie Paglini and sophomore Andrea Hupman, who each won an event for NU against Michigan State and Purdue, will have to get similar support if the Cats are to beat a team like the No. 11 Badgers (7-1, 3-0 Big Ten). Still, Tierney said she views the meet as more of a barometer than a must-win situation.
“You get a chance to see where you are in terms of your conditioning, and you get a chance to see what you need to work on,” Tierney said.
While it will be a good test for his team playing a Wisconsin team that only five years ago sent a player to the Olympics, Tierney said, winning the dual meet is not a top priority for his squad.
“Everything from our standpoint is just a step along the way to Big Ten’s and NCAA’s,” said Tierney.
A similar viewpoint is shared by the men’s squad. On a young team, Groseth said, a good mix of training and competition prior to major events can make for better swimmers come Big Ten’s or NCAA’s.
“In a sport like swimming, the champions are determined at the championship meets,” said Groseth. “Dual meets – (teach) swimmers how to race and a lot of times to find some new abilities in themselves.”
Reach Ben Larrison at [email protected].
