Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Stalk Eagles in 2014-15 Season Opener
10/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
| Northwestern at Eastern Michigan |
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| Date | Thursday, Oct. 16 | 3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET |
| Location | Jones Natatorium | Ypsilanti, Mich. |
| Live Results | Hy-Tek |
Senior Mark Ferguson returns to lead Northwestern in the backstroke and butterfly events this season
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern opens the 2014-15 season at 3 p.m. CT today in Ypsilanti, Mich., in what has become a traditional lid-lifter against Mid-American Conference powerhouse Eastern Michigan.
The Wildcats and Eagles have kicked off their respective seasons against each other in each of the last four years. NU has won two of those meetings while EMU came out on top in 2012. Eastern Michigan has won 21 of the last 26 MAC conference titles and represents a great early test for Northwestern entering the year.
Live results are available courtesy of Eastern Michigan.
Northwestern enters the year led by junior Jordan Wilimovsky (Malibu, Calif./Malibu), who finished fourth in the nation a year ago in the 1,650 freestyle and is among the favorites contending for the national title in that event this year. Over the summer, Wilimovsky earned a place on the U.S. National Team in both open water swimming and in the 1,500 meter event.
Though NU graduated a strong sprint freestyler in Chase Stephens last year, the Wildcats have five other swimmers who return this year with NCAA `B' cuts on their NU resumes. Senior Mark Ferguson (Perth, Australia/John XXIII) in the back and fly; sophomore Andy Jovanovic (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) in the back, fly and IM; sophomore Charlie Cole (Bernardsville, N.J./Bernards) in the middle distance freestyle; Van Donkersgoed (Eden Prairie, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) in the breaststroke and IM; and senior Uula Auren (Helsinki, Finland/Mäkelänrinteen Lukio) in the breaststroke all give Northwestern a solid talent base across stroke disciplines heading into the year.
In addition, sophomore diver Andrew Cramer (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) returns after scoring points in all three disciplines at the 2014 Big Ten Championships while also breaking NU records in the 3-meter and platform events.
A more detailed Northwestern season preview and interview with sixth-year head coach Jarod Schroeder will be posted at NUsports.com in the coming days.
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