Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Ready to Prove Themselves at Big Ten Championships
2/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 26, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - The wait is nearly over for the Northwestern men's swimming and diving team. After pointing all season toward one meet, the Wildcats will finally get the opportunity to participate in the Big Ten Championships this week. This year's meet begins Thursday morning and continues through Saturday night in Ann Arbor, Mich., and is hosted by the University of Michigan.
NU is coming off a fourth-place finish at last year's conference meet, the school's highest finish in over 50 years. After posting a 5-7 dual meet mark, including a 1-5 record against Big Ten competition, head coach Bob Groseth has a number of established individuals and relay squads that are capable of scoring points.
Senior Kellan O'Connor (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Preparatory) leads the way for the Wildcats. O'Connor enters the Championships as the top-ranked Big Ten swimmer in the 200 butterfly. He also ranks second in the 100 fly.
Junior Tony Swanson (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) will shoot to repeat last year's performance when he earned Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships honors. A year ago, Swanson captured titles in the 200 individual medley and the 200 backstroke. He enters this year's meet ranked third in the 200 IM, sixth in the 200 back and seventh in the 100 back.
Fellow junior Mark Hamming (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) is also expected to make an impact. He enters the championship meet with the fifth-fastest Big Ten times of the season in each the 100 and 200 fly and the 200 IM.
A pair of freshmen may play a large role in what type of success Northwestern has. Brian Davis (Issaquah, Wash./Issaquah) will be asked to continue to lead the way in the distance freestyle events as he has all season. Mike Oxman (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) will look to hold fort as the Wildcats' lone diver on the roster.
Each of NU's relay squads ranked near the middle of the pack in the Big Ten through the dual meet season. In order for the Wildcats to meet or exceed last season's conference finish, the relays will need to step up and finish in the upper half of the standings, something Groseth has preached all season.
Preliminary rounds are slated for noon Eastern time each day at the Canham Natatorium. Finals are scheduled for 7 p.m.
