After a disappointing second-place finish in the Southeastern Conference Championships, Florida is eager to take on the nation at the NCAA 2011 Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.
UF coach Gregg Troy said it will be a tough competition, but that he thinks the Gators men are in a good position to compete for the title, which they have won 38 times.
“It looks on paper to be one of the fastest meets ever,” he said. “On paper, we’re probably one of the top three teams on the men’s side.”
The No. 5 Gators have 14 swimmers qualified to compete in the competition, which is today through Saturday in Minneapolis, Minn.
Senior Conor Dwyer, the 2010 NCAA champion in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, will look to defend his 500-free title and take an NCAA gold medal in the 400 individual medley to go with the one he won at SECs.
Dwyer said the men are more prepared for this weekend than they have been all season.
“My teammates and I are extremely focused for this meet,” he said. “I’d probably say we’re more zeroed in on this meet than ever before.”
If the Gators do have one weak spot against the best teams in the nation, Troy said it is the breaststroke, in which Florida doesn’t have any swimmers qualified to compete.
Another weak area for Florida is the diving competition, since no Gators divers qualified for NCAAs. But, Troy said, the most important part of the competition is the relays.
“If we can swim good relays, the men are going to be highly competitive,” he said.
Florida is qualified for five relays: the 200 and 400 medley and the 200, 400 and 800 free. Dwyer will swim in all but the 400 free, and said he is ready to see how Florida’s practice and preparation will pay off.
“I’m excited to swim against the best this week and see where myself and my teammates stack up,” he said.
Troy, however, isn’t concerned about the competition. He said he just wants the swimmers, who hold the fastest times in the NCAA in six different events and are in the top 10 in 10 others, to focus on their best performances.
“All we can do is take care of what we have on our own selves. We can’t worry too much about what the other teams do,” he said. “Things have looked good in training, and spirits are real good.”
