Big Ten, Small World

Feb. 14, 2012

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Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.

By MICHELE DANNO

IOWA CITY, Iowa — As the University of Iowa swimmers and divers prepare to host their first Big Ten championships since 1985, both the men’s and women’s programs feel more honored than nervous to invite their closest competition into their proud new home at the Campus Wellness and Recreation Center.

With six teams ranked in the top 25 for both the men and women, the Big Ten proves to be one of the most competitive swimming and diving conferences in the nation.

While Hawkeye head coach Marc Long commented that there will be “Olympic-level talent” in the pool, UI senior leader Paul Gordon said he expects the meets to be more supportive than intimidating, because so many of the athletes know each other and share mutual goals.

“Swimming is kind of a small world,” Gordon said. “And the Big Ten is very competitive, but it’s also very friendly and respectful. There’s a mutual respect for a lot of the teams, and we have that for everyone as well. We each have our team pride, but at the end of the day, we all know each other and it’s nice. After this, we go to NCAA’s and we’re all best friends.”

And Long noted that at the 2011 Big Ten Championships, every single team had at least one NCAA qualifier, including the Hawkeyes, who sent six between the men and women.

Gordon referred to the cordial swimming environment as a “pseudo-brotherhood,” a bond freshman Becky Stoughton said she felt even after only one season as a Division I student-athlete. The Peoria, Ill., native said she considered a few Big Ten programs when making her college decision, and she is excited to show her friends at other schools what she is capable of accomplishing in her home pool.

So far this season, Stoughton has broken five school records, three of which were at the CWRC. She earned conference accolades as conference swimmer-of-the-week four times over the course of the season, and was also named Division I National Swimmer of the Week once.

Stoughton’s natural potential flourished once she hit the water at the CWRC, and she said her ability to compete at “the next level” so early in her career would not have been possible without the resources the new, state-of-the-art facility has to offer.

“I don’t think I could have done any of this if we were still swimming in the Field House,” Stoughton said. “Plus, growing up in Peoria, my team didn’t even have a pool to itself. Coming here and having a place every day to train is a new idea to me, and it’s so nice. I can’t wait to have everyone here motivating each other and breaking more records.”

With the younger half of the team never having trained in the old facility, only the juniors and seniors wear what Long considered that “badge of honor.” He noted that, while the Hawkeyes had a unique “brand” at the Field House, the new center has helped give them exposure across the country and built a more credible recruiting advantage.

“The freshmen find it hard to believe we lasted in that old place for so long, but the upperclassmen definitely have a respect for it,” Long said. “Yet, we’re certainly taking ownership of this pool. It’s our home, and we love to represent the university here.

“We’ve performed really well in this facility — everything from our dry-land to our strength training has seen a major improvement. Walking in here every day, we still pinch ourselves to have this kind of professional environment.”

The 2012 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships will be held on Feb. 15-18. The Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships will take place on Feb. 22-25. Prelims start at 11 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday, while finals will begin at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.