Swimmers prepare for NCAAs
After a fourth-place finish at the Pacific 10 Championships, head swimming coach Frank Busch said he could not be happier with where his men's swimming squad stands.
The team ended its weekend stay in Long Beach, Calif., Sunday with two individual championships and a slew of placings that Busch called "very impressive."
Junior Ryk Neethling repeated as champion in the 500-yard freestyle and 1,650 free and finished second in the 200 free. Freshman Roland Schoeman finished fourth in the 50 free and sixth in the 100 butterfly, just behind teammate junior Seth Orozco. Also notching a top finish was freshman Kris Souther, who placed fifth in the conference in the 100 backstroke as junior Nat Lewis finished fourth in the 1,650 free.
"Our team came together this weekend and swam very well," Busch said. "The Pac-10s are the biggest meets for some of our swimmers (who will not compete in the NCAAs) and they responded in a big way."
For Busch, though, this weekend is only a preview of what to look for in the future.
"As far as I can see now, this is the best men's swimming team that Arizona has ever seen," Busch said. "Coming out of this past weekend and looking ahead to the NCAA competition, I am very excited."
Busch also said his excitement is shared by his swimmers. Everything is beginning to shape up and the goal from the start - the NCAA Championships - is near, he said.
Throughout the season, Busch has said each dual-meet, invitational or championship competition his team has entered into has only been for preparation for nationals March 25-27 in Indianapolis.
"This weekend was just the tail end of what we needed to do to prepare ourselves for a run at the national title," he said.
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