RedHawks Prepare for MAC Championship

By Ben Vandertill, For The Miami Student

Miami University women's swimming and diving team is back in the pool this Wednesday to compete in the Mid-American Conference Championship Meet in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

A win in Ypsilanti would give Miami its 18th conference title.

The RedHawks are coming off a big 172-126 win over rival Ohio University on Feb. 7.

After a successful regular season, the 'Hawks finished with a strong 7-2 dual meet record. Miami's only losses have come from non-conference opponents Ohio State University and Purdue University. The RedHawks have won their last five dual meets.

In last year's MAC meet, the RedHawks had a solid performance, scoring 496 points. However, they fell short to University of Akron who posted a 574 winning score.

The men's squad competes in the MAC Championship field in Geneva, Ohio, March 5.

The RedHawks finished off the year with a 160-135 win over Ball State University. However, they struggled this year overall, posting a 3-4 dual meet record.

Seniors Joe Baumgartner and Andrew Kilkenny hope they can lead their team to a win in their last run at the MAC title.

"It's going to be an exciting MAC meet up in Geneva, we are ready for it," Baumgartner said. "We'll start cutting down on volume in practice, but the intensity will definitely go up. Senior year MACs; it'll be a good MACs. Hopefully, everyone will swim fast times."

The RedHawks have some stiff competition lying ahead of them and the seniors understand what it takes to be the best. They hope the work they have put in this season will pay off in the end.

"We're engaged in taper, starting to rest down and getting ready for the big meet." Kilkenny said. "Practices are getting a little bit shorter for us, sprint oriented, with a high intensity focus. When we get to the big MAC meet we can basically spend all that what we have left on that meet."