Jan. 26, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
Horton Pool will be filled with family and friends this Saturday for the Illinois State swimming and diving meet against UW-Green Bay. The meet will be the last home meet of the season for the `Birds and the five seniors on the team. A tribute to the seniors will begin at 10:45 a.m. and the competition will kick off at 11 a.m.
Head coach Steve Paska is looking forward to the last competition of the season at Horton Pool.
"This weekend anything can happen," said Paska. "Green Bay is having a great season and their athletes are always ready to compete. We will be ready to race, and being at home is always exciting. We have had a great week of practice and this meet will allow us to continue our evaluation process for the MVC Championships."
Among the five seniors are swimmers, Brittany Armstrong, Katie Finan and Monique Witkowski and divers, Emily Hirt and Kaitlin Schneider. Prior to Saturday's meet, the coaching staff and team will pay tribute to the seniors and their families.
"These five seniors are special group of young women," said Paska. "Time flies and I am glad that I have had he opportunity to coach five student-athletes with such a fabulous work ethic. What they have done academically, on the boards and in the water has really contributed to this team."
All five of the seniors were AFNI Honor Roll members during the fall semester of 2005. Combined, all five have been members of the AFNI Honor Roll 30 times and each has been with the program for four years. Although four of the seniors are team captains, all five have contributed in leadership roles for the team.
"All five have always put their team first," said Paska. "They have always been willing to sacrifice and pay the
price to achieve their goals. These five young women are good people and they will be successful in whatever they choose to do in their lives,"
Head diving coach Tom Davidson is looking forward to a smaller amount of athletes diving this weekend.
"There will be less divers on Saturday," said Paska. "The divers won't be waiting as long in between dives and they will be able to stay fresh. We are a deep team and as long as everyone does what they have been working on, we will take a step forward. Being at home always helps and the seniors will have a great last home meet."
