Oct. 12, 2006
Normal, Ill. -
A Missouri Valley Conference rivalry will heat up the competitive atmosphere of homecoming week on the campus of Illinois State this Friday in Horton Pool. The Redbird swimmers and divers will look to defend their home territory with a dual meet against the Panthers of Northern Iowa starting at 5:00 p.m.
Head coach Steve Paska, who hopes to keep the intensity high in the pool this Friday, looks forward to being able to compete at home against a team the `Birds will find themselves battling again later in the season for the Missouri Valley Conference championship. He expects the competition from Northern Iowa to be exceptionally strong this year.
"Northern Iowa and Illinois State have been having a dual, home-and-home meet against each other for years," said Paska. "Stacey Simmer [head coach of Northern Iowa] has an up-and-coming team. Not only does her team have a solid senior class, they have also brought in some talented freshmen that I believe will make Northern Iowa even stronger."
Diving will also be a part of the competition this weekend; however, only the `Birds will bring divers to the competition.
