Coming off a sweep in its first meet, IU has its next double header at home 9 a.m. Saturday against Iowa and Michigan.
IU stopped both University of Kentucky and University of Notre Dame from reaching triple-digit points in the first meet of the season in Lexington, Kentucky.
This upcoming meet against the Hawkeyes and the Wolverines should entail a number of highly contested races.
According to the current College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Top-25 Dual Meet poll, IU is tied with University of Missouri at fourth in the nation, Michigan is ranked sixth and Iowa 23rd.
Michigan and Iowa are both 2-0 so far this season.
The Hoosiers have an opportunity to maintain their undefeated season, but they are going against two other Top-25 teams.
In its last meet, Iowa hardly topped No. 25 Minnesota, 156-144. Michigan, though, has also kept both of its opponents from scoring in double-digit points.
The Hoosiers’ big competition will come from the Wolverines, specifically sophomore Patrick Callan and senior Miles Smachlo.
Callan finished nearly three seconds ahead of second place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:36.89. Callan achieved this time at Michigan’s first meet of the season in Ann Arbor, Michigan, against Navy and Miami University.
His time could rival IU senior Mohamed Samy, who finished with a time of 1:37.59 in the Hoosiers’ first meet. Samy will need to pick up his pace in order to clinch the victory in the 200-yard freestyle for the Hoosiers.
Smachlo won the 200-yard butterfly just shy of four seconds ahead of second place at Michigan’s home opener. He finished with a time of 1:46.59.
The senior is one of Michigan’s strongest swimmers and will give the Hoosiers’ sophomore Brendan Burns a competitive race. Burns swam a time of 1:46.73 at IU’s opening meet at University of Kentucky.
Iowa’s senior Joe Myhre could create trouble for IU in the 50-yard freestyle, with his last meet’s time at 20.16.
Depending on how IU performs in the meet Saturday, the team could potentially move up into the nation’s top-three teams. However, IU will need to dominate the meet against both Michigan and Iowa.
North Carolina State University is ranked third with 228 votes, while IU and Missouri both have 213 votes. IU will also need to have a more domineering performance than Missouri to propel itself among the top teams in the country.
