Northwestern looked ready for a comeback after sweeping the 500-yard freestyle on Friday, but Wisconsin managed to hold on for the win, 162-136.

Captain Fallon Fitzpatrick said the team was happy to be back at home, but Wisconsin made for a tough Big Ten competitor.

“We were pretty pumped up, but we were out-performed in the details like flip turns,” the senior butterflyer said.

Coach Jimmy Tierney added that some individual performances were still outstanding, but the Badgers had the depth to capture the top of the leader board.

“The relays are always a big thing in our eyes,” he said, “and we’re still fine-tuning some things.”

Tierney said the team is making big strides, but the swimmers know they need to be on their A-game every meet to win.

However, Fitzpatrick still expressed that the general spirit of the Wildcats is high, especially as they look forward to the TYR Invitational this weekend. It is the biggest conference meet the swimmers have seen this year.

The Cats will start what Fitzpatrick called “a drop taper” in preparation for the competition.  This week’s practice yardage will gradually decrease to allow the team to recover, both mentally and physically.

The fact that there is a taper emphasizes the importance of the meet, the captain said.

“The meet is our halfway checkpoint,” she said.

Tierney said the invitational is a great way for NU to practice racing in a championship format. He noted that the invitational allows the coaches to get a good look at how the swimmers react to a different setting, as well as to the taper.

“It’s like a dress rehearsal,” he said.

The meet is a three-day contest that includes preliminary and final rounds during the morning and at night, respectively. It will be hosted by NU at the Sports Pavilion and Aquatics Center.

After the invitational, the Cats will be diving right back into the swing of things. The team is traveling to Arizona State University for this year’s training trip, which occurs over winter break.

Fitzpatrick said the time away is a great opportunity to focus on swimming without having to worry about academics.

She said it’s a great way for the team to have common experiences, adding that seniors are unable to interact as much with the underclassmen during the school year.

“The training time is a really great chance for everyone to bond,” she said.

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