Nov. 9, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State swimmers and divers have tough competition this weekend, when they host Big Ten Conference foe Illinois, Saturday, Nov. 10 at noon. The Redbirds look to continue their success as they enter Saturday's meet with a 6-0 dual-meet record.
Head coach Steve Paska is looking forward to the challenge of hosting Illinois.
"Illinois is one of the finest dual-meet opponents we have this season," said Paska. "We have had a great start to the season, unblemished with our 6-0 dual meet record, and it will be exciting to see what happens when we face Illinois. I know we will be facing tough competition but we will also be competing in our home pool, and I know we are going to be competitive as well."
Paska feels that he and his coaching staff have a responsibility to prepare the team for the meet.
"We are going to have a large crowd here at Horton pool and the level of intensity will be high," Paska said. "It is our (the coaches) responsibility to raise our team's intensity and competition levels to compete against the talented Fighting Illini squad. We need the Redbirds to have an extra bit of energy and excitement and to challenge themselves to raise their level of competition."
With intense competition, Paska feels this meet will be a challenging test for the Redbirds.
"This meet is a true test to see where we stand after the fall slate," Paska said. "We are continuing on the dual-meet portion of the fall season; it is our seventh dual-meet so far, and we have had ample opportunities to see a majority of the team swim multiple events. I am looking forward to the toughest test we will have all season."
Head diving coach Phil Hoffmann is also looking forward to competing against a Big Ten team.
"I am really looking forward to compete against a school in the Big Ten," said Hoffmann. "The Illinois diving coach, Chris Waters, has some high level divers. It will be good for the Redbird divers to get an idea of Big Ten diving to prepare them for competition they may face at conference. I am looking forward for the team to compete as a whole from top to bottom in this meet."
