The Eastern Michigan University men and women’s swimming and diving teams will host the EMU Invitational at Jones Natatorium at 3:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday.
The 2011-2012 invitational is the 24th invitational the men’s swim team has hosted, and the 22nd invitational for the women’s.
The men’s squad will host Ashland, Findlay, Oakland, Ball State, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis and Wayne State. The women’s squad will host Ashland, Findlay, Oakland, IUPUI and Wayne State.
The men won the invitational last season and have won 14 consecutive, winning 16 times total. The women took second last season.
The men’s team is 0-2 . It is looking to bounce back from its 116-182 loss to Oakland. The Eagles won five of the 16 events that day.
The women’s team is 1-2 so far after a 160-140 loss to Oakland in which it won seven of the 16 events.
Many members of the EMU swimming and diving teams have already posted top times in the Mid-American Conference. Jacob Hanson has the fastest time in the 200-yard backstroke, as well as, the 200 IM. Troy Esentan is the leader of the 200 breaststroke. Jeffrey Craig holds the top spot in the 1- and 3-meter dives.
Briana Emig has the fastest time in the 500 freestyle, as well as, the top 1,000 freestyle time. Jessie Godlewski holds the top time in the 200 butterfly and Kelly Hendricks earned the top spot on the 1-meter.
Coach Peter Linn is focused on the invitational but is using it more as a measure of progress on the season.
“Our goal is to use the meet as an indicator as to where we are mid-year,” Linn said. “If we win that will be great but if not, again our major goal is preparation for the MAC Championships and then the NCAA Championships for the qualifiers.”
After the invitational the men and women’s teams are not back in action until Jan. 13, when they travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, to take on Xavier at 5 p.m.
