The Butler swim team is in Wisconsin this week for the Horizon League Championships.

Despite a few mid-season mishaps, the Bulldogs have been strong recently, winning their penultimate meet and coming in second place at their most recent contest, which was a triangular held at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

With such a young squad—there are no seniors and two juniors on the team of 16—the conference meet will be a new experience for some.

“I think we’re all going to do really well,” sophomore Kathleen Brannen said. “This is the best season we’ve had since we lost the men’s team, and having such a great season has built our confidence up.”

In last year’s version of the league championship meet, Butler placed eighth of eight teams.

The Bulldogs finished 32.5 points behind seventh-place Valparaiso, a team they have defeated twice this season.

“I really think that with the team we have this year, we’re capable of doing a lot better,” sophomore Lauren Lambrecht said. “Since we don’t have divers, that kind of throws us out of the mix.

Photo courtesy of Butler Sports Information

“But we’re definitely going to try and beat Valpo.”

Reigning champion Green Bay is playing host for the meet. Last season, the Phoenix finished 103.5 points ahead of second-place Milwaukee-Wisconsin.

Butler will try to set multiple school records in both individual and relay events, including the 200 relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay.

“Most of us shoot for personal bests and making our seven-month season worth it,” Lambrecht said. “We’re a small team, we’re young, and we’re trying to build up the program.

“Self-improvement shows possible recruits that they’ll improve when they get here.”

Starting tonight, meet coverage will be broadcast live online through horizonleague.com.