University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pittsburgh Prepares For Early Swimming Showdown in Seattle
10/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Pittsburgh Prepares For Early Swimming Showdown in Seattle
10/17/2002
PITTSBURGH ? Pittsburgh swimming and diving head coach Chuck Knoles decided to open the 2002-03 dual meet season against one of the top teams in the country, the Washington Huskies.
Knoles and the Panthers will meet the Huskies this Saturday in Seattle, Wash., and according to Knoles, will have to be focused to get the results they are looking for.
"The Pac-10 is the strongest swimming conference in the nation," Knoles said. "It is not unusual to have six of the top 15 team in the country from the Pac-10."
"Washington has built its program very well in the last three years under [head coach] Mickey Wender," Knoles continued. "The Huskies were, without a doubt, the most improved and most energized program at last year's conference meet."
On the women's side, Washington appears to be a lot deeper than Pittsburgh and should have a significant home-pool advantage with the Panthers flying across the country.
"It presents some obstacles for us but that's what life is all about," Knoles said. "It's about learning to overcome obstacles."
Pittsburgh will count on senior Emily Colley (Pace, Fla./Pace) to pick up significant points in the distance freestyle events. Colley was the Panthers' lone NCAA representative of last year's team.
The Huskies' men's team has a few Pac-10 individual champions back in their lineup but Knoles said he feels his team has a decided depth advantage.
Pittsburgh will be led by senior Mike Grube (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) and junior Eric Limkemann (New Haven, Ind./Woodlan). Both freestyle swimmers appeared in last year's NCAA Championships after winning Big East individual titles.
