The University of Wisconsin swimming and diving teams had a tough weekend of competition. Both the men's and women's teams fell to No. 9 Michigan and No. 3 Arizona, respectively. With the loss, the men's team fell to 1-1-0 in the Big Ten conference and 3-2-0 overall while the women are 1-0-0 in conference and 3-1-0 overall.
\I was disappointed in the men's performance. I didn't think [the team] stepped up to the challenge [against Michigan],"" Head Coach Eric Hansen said. ""I was pretty happy with the meet against Arizona,"" Hansen said of the women's performance.
The meet was not without its encouragements, however, as freshman Josh Bonner, one of two twin brothers on the team, led the dive team with a score of 285.60 on the 1-meter board and a score of 302.18 on the 3-meter board. Both efforts won Bonner a first place finish.
""Not only do they make great point production, but they bring a lot of energy to the team, which is what we need,"" said Hansen about the twins.
On the men's swimming side, the only first place was taken by senior co-captain standout Adam Mania who captured the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.59 seconds. The young Badgers squad, carrying only four seniors and one junior, were up against a strong Michigan team boasting Olympic gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay, who took first in the 100, 200, and 300-yard freestyle at the meet.
The women's swimming and diving team took on a confident Wildcats team who handed the Badgers their first loss with a score of 141-119, putting the only blemish on their now 3-1-0 overall record.
Luckily the Wildcats did not sport an Olympic gold medalist and, in fact, it was Wisconsin who was led by an Olympic team trials qualifier, junior Anna Trinidad.
Trinidad won the 200-yard freestyle and the 400-yard individual medley, while finishing a close second in the 200-yard backstroke to teammate sophomore Susan Johnson.
Her stellar performance at this weekend's meet earned Trinidad Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honors. It was the second award of her career, and the seventh award for the team this year in only three weeks of competition.
""She is finally racing the way she's capable after three years of training. She has the confidence and she's healthy. She's quite possibly the best swimmer in the Big Ten,"" Hansen said.
Showing improvement and bringing hope to the Badgers, Cassie Kubly led the women's diving team with sixth place in the 1-meter board, and fourth on the 3-meter board.
Both teams will look to rebound against Northwestern this weekend.
The men's team will attempt to improve their overall team performance while the women's team will go in expecting a lot and more of the same. Hansen will work to simply ""stay out of their way"" as they look to hold onto their top ten ranking.
