Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Swim Teams to Host Invitational This Weekend
11/18/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 18, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Norris Aquatics Center at Northwestern will be the site of one of the most important early-season college swim meets in the country this weekend, as the Wildcat men?s and women?s teams will host the first-ever NU Invitational. The event will begin Friday and continue throughout the weekend, using a championship format of heats in the mornings and championships in the evenings.
The 10th-ranked women and the men will entertain SMU, Arizona State and Kansas. On the men?s side, Arizona is currently ranked 14th while SMU is 19th and Kansas is among the schools also receiving votes. Among the women, SMU is sixth, ASU is 21st, and Kansas is receiving votes.
?We?re very excited to host the Invitational and bring some high-caliber teams in for this event,? said Jimmy Tierney, Northwestern?s women?s coach. ?Meet-wise, aside from racing other great athletes, this is a great opportunity for us to get into the championship format mentality ? especially the freshmen. This will get everyone in the mode of swimming heats in the mornings and coming back to race in a championship race at night.?
?All of us are excited,? said Bob Groseth, head coach of the Wildcat men?s team. ?The programs coming in are all highly regarded, national programs and should provide great competition. We are looking at the meet as a dry run for Big Ten?s and NCAA?s.?
Though it is still very early in the season, the Wildcat coaches expect some exceptional racing to occur with the caliber of the athletes competing.
?I know we traditionally tend to hit some peaks in late November,? said Tierney. ?I think people who come out will see some nationally-ranked times from some of the nation?s top swimmers.?
