Oct. 21, 2003
THIS WEEK: The University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving team will host Michigan State Friday, then travel to Madison, WI to compete against Wisconsin on Saturday. Each meet will begin at 2 p.m.
LAST WEEK: Iowa defeated Northern Iowa but lost to Kansas last week by a single point. Iowa beat UNI by a score of 229-32. Junior standout Jennifer Skolaski won the 100-back, 200-back, and 500-free events to lead the Hawkeyes.
QUOTING O’KEEFFE: “Michigan State will be another good test for us just like Kansas was last week. We’ve been able to beat them the last few years at the Big Ten meet, but dual meets are a different story. Wisconsin will also be a tough meet after competing Friday, but I think we’ll be ready. There’s going to be a few changes as far as who’s swimming what events. I want to mix it up so that we don’t get tired of competing in the same events over and over.”
HEAD COACH: Garland O’Keeffe is in her third season as head coach of the Hawkeyes. She has a school and career record of 18-16, 6-12 in the Big Ten. O’Keeffe has coached three honorable mention all-Americans, three NCAA qualifiers and a Big Ten champion. The Hawkeyes have also shattered 19 school records in the last two years. O’Keeffe gained US National Team coaching experience over the summer when she was selected as an assistant coach for the National Team Distance Camp at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
DIVING COACH: Bob Rydze is in his 28th year as diving coach of the men and women’s teams at the University of Iowa, and is the dean of Big Ten swimming and diving coaches. Rydze has coached three Olympians, Randy Ableman (United States), Ricardo Camacho (Spain) and Tomas Rossa (Poland). Rydze came to Iowa in 1975 from the Dad’s Club diving team in Houston, TX. He also coached at Eastern Michigan from 1971-73.