The UW women's swimming and diving team will bring their undefeated Big Ten record into Minneapolis, looking to make a splash at the Big Ten Championships this weekend at the University of Minnesota.
""I like the idea of showing up and seeing where we stack up with the Big Ten,"" head coach Eric Hansen said in a press conference Monday.
The Badgers (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) are fresh off two Big Ten victories this weekend at the Nat, where they soundly defeated Purdue and Minnesota in Tri-duals competition.
Sophomore standout Yi Ting Siow leads the team in victories this season, winning 24 of 33 entered events. Siow also has the fastest times in the conference in the 200- and 400-yard individual medley, as well as the 200-yard breaststroke.
""She's a phenomenal talent,"" Hansen said of Siow. ""She's probably the most talented athlete we've had in our program.""
Senior captain Susan Johnson's leadership will also be key for the Badgers. Johnson has a conference-best time in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke and is an integral part of the 400-yard medley relay that also holds a current Big Ten record.
""Her versatility is just amazing,"" Hansen said. ""Susan has led this team, along with Jackie Vavrek, one of our junior sprinters, to a place where we really feel confident that we can be better than we've been.""
Vavrek, a West Chicago, Ill. native, currently holds the 2007 Big Ten 50-yard freestyle record.
Wisconsin's sixth place finish at the Big Ten tournament in Columbus, Ohio last year was not a complete reflection of how well the Badgers fared overall. The Badgers went on to place ninth at the NCAA national championships—best among Big Ten teams.
""Even though we were sixth, we were the best Big Ten team in the end,"" Hansen said in reference to last year's showing.
With several individuals and relays already qualified for the NCAA Championships, Hansen can't help but look ahead to the big dance.
""The way we prepare [for the] Big Ten is a stepping stone,"" Hansen said. ""We look to come together as a team, have our relays score very high. [At the] NCAA championships, we were ninth last year, which was the best that we've been,"" he said. ""We're looking forward to taking the next step there, and we feel we can.""
The competition starts Thursday at 11 a.m. with the finals broadcast live at gophersports.com.
—uwbadgers.com
contributed to this report
