With a month to go before the start of its season, the IU swim and dive team has released the 2018-19 schedule.
The Hoosiers will begin their season with the Cream & Crimson scrimmage Oct. 5, before opening the season at home Oct. 10, 10 days earlier than the Hoosiers started their 2017-18 season. The meet will feature three teams: the Missouri Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Nine days later, the Hoosiers will be in Austin, Texas, competing against Texas and Florida. The meet will take place Oct. 19 and 20.
IU then gets nearly a month off before traveling to Purdue for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Nov. 10-11. This will be the Hoosiers’ first look at Michigan, the defending Big Ten Champions, and Virginia, the defending ACC champions. Every ACC and Big Ten school with a swim and dive team will be competing in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Later that week, the Hoosiers will be back in the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center for the IU Invitational Nov. 15-17.
After the IU Invitational, the Hoosiers will get two months off before welcoming Michigan Jan. 17. On Jan. 26, IU will be back in West Lafayette, but this time, just to face the Boilermakers. The regular season closes with a home meet against the Louisville Cardinals Feb. 1.
As for the post season, the Big Ten Championships will take place Feb. 20-23 in Bloomington. The Hoosiers placed second at the Big Ten Championships last season.
After the Big Ten championships, attention turns to the National Championships. The Hoosiers will be at Cleveland State for the last-chance meet, as those who haven’t qualified for the NCAA Finals get their last chance March 14-16. Simultaneously, the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships will be taking place in West Lafayette.
Finally, those who have qualified will compete in the NCAA Championships, back in Austin from March 20-23. IU finished eighth at the NCAA Championships last season.
The Hoosiers 2018-19 schedule features 12 teams that were ranked in the final 2017-18 Coaches Poll. IU brings back four different athletes that won Big Ten Championships in the 2017-18 season: senior Lilly King, senior Jessica Parratto, sophomore Grace Haskett and senior Christine Jensen. King is the only returning swimmer to win an individual NCAA title.
