Spring Break
Swimming And Diving Face Yale In Finale
Dennis Rizzo
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Sports
The UConn swimming and diving teams close out their regular seasons this Saturday at 1 p.m. with a pivotal match against Yale.
The UConn men (8-0) are hoping to avoid the recent pattern of other undefeated teams and complete their season with a zero in the loss column. Head coach Bob Goldberg knows how significant this would be for his team, but is also aware that this is no easy task.
"I think it'd be great. We'll have to step up big time to do it, but that's why we are going down there to swim," Goldberg said. "[Yale] is probably the best team we swim against all year. It should be very competitive. They are a very good team."
The UConn women have responded well after starting the season 3-2. The Huskies (7-2) have won four straight dual meets, but like the men, the Yale women also pose a serious obstacle for the Huskies.
"[The bulldogs] are good both men and women," Goldberg said. "We are good both men and women. I think both meets will be pretty competitive. It's possible to win [the meet] and that's why we are going there. It will be a tall order, but it's possible."
Arguably the most difficult part of this test will be keeping up with Yale swimmer and former high school Swimmer of the Year, Alex Righi, who according to coach Goldberg, is one of the top five swimmers in the country.
However, while Yale may have Righi, UConn has Alex Davidson, Tomasz Sobek, Lisa Shelps and Courtney Haney.
Davidson and Sobek, both freshmen, have matured into two of UConn's best swimmers.
At last week's meet, Sobek won the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke, while Davidson came away with first place finishes in the 100-yard backstroke, the 200-yard backstroke and the 500 freestyle. Having freshman like this are more than a welcome addition though. They are also a new part of coach Goldberg's recruiting philosophy.
"We've changed a little bit of our recruiting," Goldberg said. "Instead of bringing in more numbers we've tried to focus on a couple really good swimmers. Certainly Alex [Davidson] and Tomasz [Sobek] are swimming exceptionally fast. We are happy with what's happening."
The UConn men (8-0) are hoping to avoid the recent pattern of other undefeated teams and complete their season with a zero in the loss column. Head coach Bob Goldberg knows how significant this would be for his team, but is also aware that this is no easy task.
"I think it'd be great. We'll have to step up big time to do it, but that's why we are going down there to swim," Goldberg said. "[Yale] is probably the best team we swim against all year. It should be very competitive. They are a very good team."
The UConn women have responded well after starting the season 3-2. The Huskies (7-2) have won four straight dual meets, but like the men, the Yale women also pose a serious obstacle for the Huskies.
"[The bulldogs] are good both men and women," Goldberg said. "We are good both men and women. I think both meets will be pretty competitive. It's possible to win [the meet] and that's why we are going there. It will be a tall order, but it's possible."
Arguably the most difficult part of this test will be keeping up with Yale swimmer and former high school Swimmer of the Year, Alex Righi, who according to coach Goldberg, is one of the top five swimmers in the country.
However, while Yale may have Righi, UConn has Alex Davidson, Tomasz Sobek, Lisa Shelps and Courtney Haney.
Davidson and Sobek, both freshmen, have matured into two of UConn's best swimmers.
At last week's meet, Sobek won the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke, while Davidson came away with first place finishes in the 100-yard backstroke, the 200-yard backstroke and the 500 freestyle. Having freshman like this are more than a welcome addition though. They are also a new part of coach Goldberg's recruiting philosophy.
"We've changed a little bit of our recruiting," Goldberg said. "Instead of bringing in more numbers we've tried to focus on a couple really good swimmers. Certainly Alex [Davidson] and Tomasz [Sobek] are swimming exceptionally fast. We are happy with what's happening."
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