By
Lindsey Manroel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Beard returns for first meet since medal-winning Olympic performance
Friday afternoon's cold air and pouring rain came down hard at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center when the Arizona women's swim team took on Northern Arizona University. Despite the weather conditions, the Wildcats managed to defeat the 'Jacks, 157-120.
"Other than that it was incredibly cold and raining hard, we did well," breaststroker Amanda Beard said. "It (the rain) set both us and NAU back a little bit and made the race a little harder because we were freezing."
UA head coach Frank Busch said the rain and cold weather contributed to the closer-than-expected finish.
"We weren't hot," he said. "I didn't expect anyone to be particularly fast and the cold does not make for a good situation. But I was happy with the way the girls handled it."
Despite the rainy weather, Arizona took first place in ten of the twelve individual events and captured the win in the 400-meter freestyle relay behind the swimming of Amy Bouta, Beard, Maria Papadopolou and Julie Manitt.
UA freshman Jessica Wagner took home two first place finishes, winning the 100 and 200-meter breastroke events.
The meet marked the first time that the entire squad had been present since the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. Beard was among those swimmers to return.
"It's nice to have her back and a part of the group," Busch said. "We have a group that's experienced, and I think that they all look at each other with respect."
In her first meet since taking home the bronze medal in Sydney, Beard captured first place finishes in both the 200-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly.
The UA sophomore said she was excited about rejoining her team.
"It's nice for me to get back and swim with Arizona, to get the whole college atmosphere," Beard said. "With Arizona, it's a team and we push each other and cheer each other to swim faster."
After coming back from a winter break in which the Wildcats trained daily, Busch said he was confident that - with time and practice - his squad will be able to swim at an elite level.
"We just need to sharpen our racing skills as we begin to get through the semester," he said. "Our girls will be excited and looking forward to racing them. They'll race well."
Beard said the team's mental approach will become increasingly important as Pacific 10 Conference play begins.
"We need to stay positive," Beard said. "It gets hard when you are working out so hard ... but we all need to help each other at keeping our spirits high."
