From 3 to 13: The difference a year makes for IU swimming

At the 2004 NCAA Championships, the Hoosiers sent only two swimmers and one diver to competition while finishing 17th overall. \nNow IU is sending its most national qualifiers since 1984.\nThe IU men's swimming and diving team has made clear progress during IU coach Ray Looze's short tenure in Bloomington. Looze hopes it all will come to fruition at nationals this week.\nHeading to Minneapolis for the 2005 NCAA Championships, IU is bringing 13 swimmers and divers, as well as the recognition of being the No. 13 school in country.\nBut that is just the beginning for the enthusiastic young Hoosiers.\n"I want to see the guys be determined and tenacious," Looze said. "We want to push up our national ranking as much as possible."\nAfter the closest Big Ten Championship since 1948, the Hoosiers gained national respect by finishing a close second in the championship -- placing ahead of No. 5 Michigan and three points shy of No. 6 Minnesota. They intend to make a larger statement at the NCAAs.\n"In the short 2 1/2 years with the team, we've definitely improved our program," Looze said. "We want to bring it back into the elite as quickly as possible."\nIU is bringing a large arsenal to Minneapolis with the hope of accumulating the points necessary to make a run for the national title. The Hoosiers qualified for the NCAAs in all five relays this season, marking the first time in the history of the NCAAs that IU has qualified in all five. The Hoosiers also are sending eight more swimmers and two more divers to the NCAAs from a year ago. Amid the competing swimmers for IU is All-American junior Kevin Swander, IU's top-seeded swimmer.\n"I definitely want to improve on my swims from last year," Swander said. "I'm excited to get up and race."\nSwander is seeded fourth out of 36 in the 200-yard breaststroke and ninth out of 41 in the 100-yard breaststroke. But the Hoosiers head to the NCAAs with the hope of accomplishing two things: gaining experience for the young Hoosiers and completing a storied career with a championship season.\n"I would like to get everyone swimming well at the same time," Looze said. "We have two that have been here before, and the rest are the rookies."\nIU has been fortunate to have talented underclassmen; the majority of the qualifiers are either freshmen or sophomores. But because IU can make a strong statement at the NCAAs, added pressure can fall onto the inexperienced Hoosiers.\n"I just want to get out and swim fast," said sophomore swimmer Scott Tanner, who is seeded No. 31 in the 100-yard butterfly. "I'm competing in two relays, so I've got a bunch of people depending on me."\nGaining experience for the underclassmen is almost a given. What is not is how senior diver Marc Carlton will end his All-American career. After winning five Big Ten Diver of the Week awards, two Big Ten titles and two titles in the Zone C Championships, the senior will be in the spotlight as he attempts to dive into more record books.\n"I would love to see (Carlton) make a run for a national title," Looze said.\nThe NCAAs happen today through Saturday in Minneapolis, where the IU men's swimming and diving team will attempt to obtain its first national title since 1973.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Evan Harris at evharris@indiana.edu