Hoosiers take on top NCAA competition

Basketball is not the only IU sport being played this weekend in Georgia. Four members of the swimming and diving teams qualified for the NCAA championship, held today through Saturday at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga. \n"We'd like to have a real team outlook by having about six or seven more people here," swimming coach Kris Kirchner said. "But, we've only got three swimmers and one diver. So, we're going to do the best we can with everybody here."\nOn the swimming side, junior breaststroker David Schulze will compete in the 100 and 200-yard races as well as the 200-yard individual medley. Sophomore sprinters Dale Ramsy and Claes Andersson will each compete in the 50-yard freestyle. \nThis is the first meet for all three swimmers since the Hoosiers finished the Big Ten Championship meet in seventh. Andersson and Ramsy set career and season best times in the 50-yard freestyle at Big Ten's and Schulze set a season best time in the 200-yard individual medley and broke the school records in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke events. \n"Personally, I've had a really good season," Schulze said. "I hope to have some best times, get to that second swim and finish strong. The best thing that I could do is to get a second swim in as many events as I can."\nKirchner said he has a positive outlook on the team's potential at the meet. \n"My expectations are high for them to swim their best," Kirchner said. "That's what this meet is all about. It's the best in the world. You go out and do your absolute best. If you can improve your times, you have a great shot at getting into finals."\nSophomore Marc Carlton is the lone Hoosier diving representative. Carlton qualified for the platform event after placing second in the event at the NCAA zone diving qualifying meet. Carlton qualified on the second day of zones, after just missing a dive on the first day.\n "I feel like I should be here," Carlton said. "I don't have any specific goals. I just want to compete well, and I think that's all I need to do to place pretty well. I'd be satisfied with finalling."\n Diving coach Jeff Huber said Carlton is capable of making an impact at the meet. Huber said two of Carlton's more difficult dives, his double out and his gainer two and a half twist dives could be the key to his success. \n"I think he's definitely an All-American, he capable of that," Huber said. "That's what we're shooting for. But this is a tough meet. There are at least six divers that I know of that participated in the Olympic games for the United States or other countries. So, you're talking about some pretty major divers. So he'll have to step up and perform pretty well."\nThis year marks the 19th straight season the Hoosiers have sent at least one competitor to the NCAA championships. \nThe competition begins each day with prelims at noon and finals at 7 p.m.