Oct. 1, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State's swimming and diving team will go on the road for the first time this season Friday as the Redbirds begin their competitive season at the Dennis Stark Relays at Notre Dame. The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and ISU is one of seven teams set to compete.
The relays at Notre Dame have been Illinois State's first competition on the schedule for the past 10 years. Head Coach Steve Paska always looks forward to this meet to begin the year.
"In my opinion I think it is a fantastic way to start the season," Paska said. "It provides our team a swimming environment that enhances team unity and cohesiveness because every event is based on relays. It allows us to showcase our depth and gives opportunities to a number of girls to swim multiple events."
The Dennis Stark Relays mark the beginning of five- consecutive weekends of meets for the Redbirds.
"The Notre Dame Relays is the first event of the season and it allows me to see how the ladies are going to swim in back to back weekends," Paska said. "We swim five straight weekends and this is the chance to see where the girls are at in terms of their focus and intensity. Our first test is Friday and I believe we're in for a very competitive weekend."
The Illinois State diving team will be competing in both one-meter dives and three-meter synchronized dives. Head diving coach Phil Hoffmann feels the event is a good way to measure where Illinois State is at this stage of the season.
"Notre Dame is a good test of where we are at this time in the season," Hoffmann said. "Notre Dame has a lot of good divers, as well as Ball State, who we will see at a dual meet later in the season, so it is a great way to gauge where we are at competitively."
The Dennis Stark Relays is the only time Redbird divers will compete in a synchronized diving event during the 2008-09 season. Hoffmann feels the synchronized dives are a fun event for the divers.
"It is a fun meet because we do a three-meter synchronized event," Hoffman said. "(Junior) Liza Perrino and (Freshman) Brittany Tazzioli will be teaming up for the synchronized dive, which is a once-a-year event. I look forward to seeing the girls have fun."
Freshman diver Polly Hirt will be competing against her sister, Lucy Hirt, of Notre Dame, on a collegiate level for the first time.
