Juniors Eric Ress and Cody Miller will lead a small group of Indiana University swimmers in Austin, Texas for the AT&T Swimming Winter Nationals beginning Nov. 29 and ending Dec. 1.
Particularly challenging for the Hoosiers as they head into this competition is the increased talent that will surely be present in the pool. According to IU Coach Ray Looze, the IU swimmers will be up against tapered, shaved and well-rested athletes.
"A well-rested athlete is always dangerous to an athlete in full-training and that's where our swimmers are at this point," Looze said.
Not only is the meet a chance for the IU swimmers to compete against a versatile field, but it is also an opportunity for the IU coaches to scout for recruitments because of the various club teams that will compete.
Other Hoosiers competing in the meet include 2012 Olympic participant and sophomore Dorina Szekeres and recipient of All-American honors in the 500 freestyle and the 400 medley relay junior Jim Barbiere.
Brooklyn Snodgrass, Haley Lips, Taylor O'Brien, and Madeline Maher will represent the women's strong freshman class, while Tanner Kurz is the lone freshman to perform at Nationals this weekend.
"Without much rest and coming off of break, it's going to be hard, but this meet is going to be a challenge for a lot of us," junior Lindsey Vrooman said. "Some of this summer's past Olympians will be competing so it will be a good racing experience."
Gold medalists Missy Franklin, Ryan Lochte, and Katie Ledecky, along with several of the nation's top swimmers will compete in the event.
The remainder of the IU swimming and diving team will participate in the OSU Invitational in Columbus, Ohio this weekend.
The Hoosiers will be pitted against fierce competitors including the men's current No. 5 Florida and No. 10 Ohio State and the University of North Carolina.
"We are going to see some fast times from both teams -either going to Texas, or OSU- even though we are not tapering for this meet, but I believe that spending some time with our family or friends over the Thanksgiving break gave us some extra strength to carry on until Christmas break," Szekeres said.
