Ever wonder why the Big Red swimming and diving teams seem to be swimming their best in March? Take one look at its schedule and that just might clue you in. As one of the top programs in all of small college swimming Denison has had an opportunity to swim against the nation's best over the last 20 years.
This weekend will certainly test Denison's wherewithal as the men's and women's program will travel to Columbus on Friday for a quad-meet against Division I opponents, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, and Cleveland State. It doesn't stop there. After a meet that will likely last past 9 p.m., DU will receive the early morning wake-up call for its annual grudge match with Kenyon College on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in Gambier.
Both Denison squads are off to strong starts in the young 2011-12 campaign. The men placed first at the 10-team Kenyon Relays and are 2-0 in dual meets with wins over Asbury (Ky.) and Ohio Wesleyan. The women also boast a 2-0 dual meet record after placing second at the Kenyon Relays on Oct. 22.
This evening at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on the campus of Ohio State University Denison will take on squads that were all nationally ranked in their respective polls a season ago. Ohio State's men placed 11th at the 2011 NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championship while racking up 25 All-American performances. The OSU women turned in a 17th place finish at nationals and are coming off a 176.5-83.5 win over Kenyon last week. Virginia Tech's men's squad placed 28th at nationals and is 4-1 this season with a key win over Florida State on its resume. The Hokie women are 4-2 and coming off wins over Duke and UNC Wilmington.
Both Cleveland State squads were nationally ranked a season ago in the College Swimming Coaches Association Mid-Major poll with the men ending the year in the No. 9 position and the women at No. 29. Both Viking squads sit at 2-0.
Denison senior Robert Barry has already posted NCAA provisional qualifying times in the 100 and 200 yard backstroke. Other 'B' cut times have been logged by Al Weik in the 500 yard freestyle, Quinn Bartlett in the 200 backstroke. In diving, junior Gabe Dixson is coming off a Denison varsity record in the 3-meter. First-year Connor Dignan has also qualified for nationals in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.
On the women's side, junior Alyssa Swanson has four NCAA provisional performances to her credit this season. Laurel Brabson has also notched a 'B' cut in the 200 butterfly.
In Saturday's dual meet with Kenyon, the Big Red men are looking for its first win over the Lords in head-to-head action since 2007. Denison's women are riding a two-meet winning streak against the Ladies. A live video stream of Saturday's meet with Kenyon will begin at 10 a.m.
