IU travels to Northwestern for dual meet

Business is about to pick up for the IU swimming teams. \nTonight’s trip to Evanston, Ill., to face off with a strong Northwestern squad should go a long way in setting the tone for the rest of the season. \n“They’re one of the most improved squads in the Big Ten,” coach Ray Looze said. “We’re expecting a really big challenge.”\nSaying that he expects a challenge from the Wildcats might be an understatement. But the team claims they’re ready for one of the more important meets of this young season. \nOn the men’s side, the No. 8-ranked Hoosiers travel to Evanston fresh off a convincing victory over Missouri last week. But the No. 18 Wildcats have been waiting for this meet, their season opener. \nLooze doesn’t expect Northwestern to do IU any favors.\nThe sentiment among the team is to try and weather any trouble Northwestern throws at them in the first few events and take it to the Wildcats later in the meet. \n“They’re ready for us,” Looze said. “They will be pumped up, and there will be a big crowd. But emotion is fleeting. We need to hold on early.”\nThe Hoosiers will also be looking for revenge after they lost to Northwestern in Bloomington last season.\n“They’re a very good team, and the results always go back and forth when we swim them,” junior Steffan Troxel said. \nTroxel said one of the keys to the matchup will be winning the medley relays. That likely puts the pressure on seniors Ben Hesen and Pat Penoyar, the anchors of the event, to get the job done. \nThey had no problem leading the way for the Hoosiers to victory in the four-man race against Missouri, but Northwestern presents a stiffer challenge. \nWhile the medley will be important in grabbing early momentum from the Wildcats, Looze knows it will take a complete effort to get a victory.\n“We need to win the turns, the relay starts and we need to finish strong,” he said.\nWhile the men want to prove they are a serious contender for a Big Ten championship, the defending Big Ten champion women want to prove that they are still among the elite teams in the country after a surprising loss to Missouri. \n“The loss in itself motivated us,” junior Christie Fuchs said. “We have been working really hard on our confidence and team spirit.”\nThe No. 23 Hoosiers will face off with an unranked Northwestern squad that finished seventh in the Big Ten last season. \nOne thing the women need to improve on is winning close races, something they did not do in their season opener in Columbia. The Hoosiers were shorthanded for that event, with Looze holding several key swimmers out. \nNow the team will be at full strength, but the Hoosiers aren’t taking Northwestern lightly.\n“They always put up a tough fight,” Fuchs said. “This year won’t be any different.”\nThere is added incentive to do well Friday. Swimming World Magazine selected the IU-Northwestern meet as its meet of the week. \n“We all want to do extra well,” Fuchs said. “Everyone will be watching.”\nBut while the attention might make for added excitement, a win is what the Hoosiers want most.\n“They’ve always been a big rival,” Troxel said, “and we’re really excited. But at the same time, we have a job to do and we’re going to do it.”