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Swim team primed to dive in larger pool |
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Thursday, 10 April 2008 |
by ERIK RHYNE
Sports Reporter
The Appalachian State University swim club has its sights set on the American Swimming Association – University level (ASAU) National Championships this weekend.
“It’s a bit intimidating because a lot of schools that go are Division-I schools with people that likely have competed for the varsity team,” senior team member Graham McGinnis said. “There are a lot of
athletes that compete on different levels. At the same time it’s a fun atmosphere.”
The two-day event, hosted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, begins Saturday.
 Junior exercise science major Lindsay E. King practices the butterfly during the swim team’s Monday practice in the Student Recreation Center. Photo by Holt Menzies
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To be eligible, one had to compete in a meet that was sanctioned by the ASAU, junior Lindsay King
said.
“Whoever competed in that meet qualified,” King said. “You only had to compete in that meet because
it was sanctioned to qualify for nationals. You don’t have to get a certain time to qualify.”
Only nine members for ASU are allowed to compete at nationals. The meet sanctioned at Tennessee
was held over Spring Break, causing many to not make the trip.
King said next year, the team plans to find as many meets that are sanctioned as possible to give
more members the opportunity to compete.
The Mountaineers understand what is in store for them when they arrive in Chapel Hill this weekend.
“It will probably be the biggest meet we’ve been to, just by numbers,” McGinnis said. “I’m sure UNC
has a really nice facility, and they are a big name. I assume they’ll attract a lot of competition. It’ll be
the best competition we’ve faced in college so far.“
While having an idea of what to expect, Appalachian is planning to use the weekend more as a learning
experience for future visits to nationals.
“I think this weekend is just for us to go down there and have fun,” King said. “For the future, we need
to participate in a lot more meets and get our name out there. This week will help in getting the name of
Appalachian State out there and knowing we have a swim team.”
Aside from preparing for nationals, another goal is to expose Appalachian to the rest of the nation in
hopes of hosting a home meet next year.
“We had planned to host a meet this semester,” McGinnis said. “It would be easier to go to a big meet
to get our name out there to other club teams. Hopefully we can gain interest to host a meet in our new
facility.”
That may be the biggest advantage of the pool in the Student Recreation Center. After constant
delays, the team has had its first full season back in the pool.
“When they tore down the old pool and were still working on the new one, we had to resort to dry-land
practices,” King said. “It is obviously not the same as being in the pool.”
After the Mountaineers return from their trip off the mountain, a season of firsts will be completed.
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