KELLY MURPHY | STAFF REPORTER
Butler’s women’s swim team is hard at work preparing for its meet next weekend.
On Saturday, the team will travel to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, for its last meet before tapering.
Tapering is when athletes scale back their training — in this case, the swimmers will be swimming less yards at practice — in order to improve their performance ability.
This is common in sports that require a lot of endurance.
“This will be a perfect opportunity to perform well while working hard in practice,” freshman sprint freestyle and backstroke swimmer Maree Smith said.
The team is striving for its best times this meet.
“Our team has grown stronger over the past couple of meets, and we are ready to get some Big East cuts,” said freshman Emily Motill, a freestyle, butterfly and individual medley swimmer.
In swimming, Big East cuts are what the team strives for in order to qualify for the Big East Championship meet.
These cuts can be achieved at any meet throughout the season.
These cut times, comparable to tournaments in basketball, will determine who gets to move on to the bigger meets.
The swimming team is getting ready for its meet at Miami of Ohio this Saturday. Collegian File Photo
In addition to swimming fast this weekend, freshman Meg McIlvenna and junior Cecilia Rose, both natives of Cincinnati, Ohio, are excited to return to a place of familiarity.
“All of my biggest meets [as a kid] were at Miami, so I’m used to the pool,” Rose said. “It is kind of like a homecoming.”
“I love Miami’s pool,” McIlvenna said. “It feels like home, and I’m ready to swim fast.
They are not the only members excited for the meet.
“This is the first time we have competed against Miami of Ohio, and we are excited for the upcoming meet and to swim at their natatorium, which is a fast pool,” said swim coach Maurice Stewart.
The team finished eighth at its last meet — the Indiana Intercollegiate Meet.
At that meet, sophomore Audrey Gosnell was the Bulldog’s top performing butterfly swimmer. She said she is excited to compete again, this time in Miami’s pool.
“I have heard [Miami’s pool] is really fast,” Gosnell said. “I am really excited to get some best season times and bond with the team.”
In addition to using this meet for best times and Big East cuts, Stewart said the team intends to use the meet to prepare for the upcoming House of Champions Invitational.
The first race begins this Saturday at 1 p.m.
