Dive team heads to Florida for training

The first half of the season is over for the women's swimming and diving team. Now, preparations begin to travel to Florida for its annual training trip. \nEvery year at the beginning of January, the entire team takes the trip to get in shape and bond before the last half of the season begins. \nThe team will compete against some tough Big Ten squads in the second half of the season, as well as at the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships to conclude the season. These events give team members the opportunity to bond and put themselves in better shape for the grueling last half of the campaign. \nJunior Erin Smith has been on the training trip before and is excited about making the journey to Florida. \n"What's best about the training trip is the warm weather," Smith said. "Being in Florida, away from the cold, getting some sun, makes the hard work so much more bearable." \nThe team will start the trip Jan. 1 and will return Jan. 9. The next day the team will resume dual-meet action when it will face off against Big Ten foe Ohio State. \nSmith made it clear that the team members' main objective is to get some well-deserved rest, enjoy themselves and most of all, to get in great shape for the last half of the season. Smith also commented on how the team comes together to form a closer relationship after the trip. \n"After 10 days of really hard training, sleeping and eating together, the team definitely gets much closer," Smith said. "I think the ones that really feel the difference are the freshmen, though, because this is the turning point when they realize they finally fit in and are really a part of the team."\nThe team has surprised many with its excellent performances at many of the meets. The team is holding a 3-1 dual-meet record, and it won the IU Invitational in November. The team is getting quality contributions from young freshmen like Leila Vaziri, and old veterans, still shining through, like Brooke Taflinger. \nTaflinger was also very excited to be taking this trip.\n"I enjoy being tested in the sets and training really hard," Taflinger said. "I enjoy coming together as a team because we all thought we were unstoppable, and we we're all working together to achieve one goal. Nothing was going to get in our way." \nSmith and Taflinger both said they love the opportunity to enjoy their teammates' company and their breaks. But they said this is a time when the season is going to be toughest and they're going to have to work hard. \nThe team is also focused on defending its Big Ten Championship from last year, with a top ten showing at the NCAA Championships in its sights.\nCoach Dorsey Tierney feels the team is at its best right now at certain points, but some days members struggle a little.\n"Some days I think we're ahead and some days I think we are behind," Tierney said. "We have about 50 percent of our team that is at the right level, and we have about 50 percent of the team that I don't think is there yet."\nTierney has stressed all season she is very impressed with the effort her team has put out.\nTaflinger is certainly ready to finish up strong.\n"(The competition in Florida) is a test for everyone on the team to see how tough they really are," Taflinger said. "Practices are going to be harder than they have been all season, and this trip will only make our team better and stronger."\n-- Contact staff writer Chris Hopper at chopper@indiana.edu.