Mid-American Conference Championships
Ohio Swim and Dive Set To Host MAC Championship
2/27/2024 1:30:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio swim and dive team is preparing to host the 2024 Mid-American Conference Swim and Dive Championship this weekend (Feb. 28 - March 2).
"We've been loosely planning for this for the last six years of things that we wanted to make sure we did differently coming in versus what happened in 2018, which was right when I got hired," head coach Mason Norman said.
Norman came in right after the Bobcats hosted the championship that season and it will be his first time hosting in Athens. His main goal is foster a unique experience for the fans and student-athletes in the aquatic center. Norman especially had the Bobcats' seniors in mind throughout the planning process because it will be their last meet in green and white.
Senior Gabrielle Brust came to Ohio knowing that she'd get to swim at home for her senior conference championship, but it seemed so far away for most of her career. Now that the vision is a reality, Brust can't help but feel a mix of emotions.
"This season has definitely gone the quickest for me. I think that just has to do with me being a senior and this being the last time, but I feel like our team has looked the strongest since I've been here for four years. We're super excited to show what we've been working on since September," Brust said.
Nothing about the meet is last minute for Ohio. It has spent all season putting the pieces together in and outside the pool. From its cabin retreat at the beginning of the season to now, Ohio has been locked in. It's just added a few details along the way, including a new video board.
Norman emphasized that having a home advantage is nice, but Ohio still needs to be high energy for the duration of the meet to succeed. Ohio has laid the groundwork, though, by taking a few turns in the deep end of the pool where the meet will be hosted. Typically, Ohio practices in the shallow end.
"We're focusing more on just getting as much time over on that side of the pool since that's where we'll be racing in order to get comfortable with the blocks and the walls," Brust said. "Making sure that we kind of tune up those fine details. We also got new touchpads for our blocks where we start off, so we've been practicing with those as well."
The Bobcats are confident in their ability to do well against other MAC opponents. The positive culture surrounding the team from top to bottom allows the Bobcats to use their depth to their full advantage. It's not just one person contributing, it's everyone.
Freshman Zita Szoke (Hodmezovasarhely, Hungary) is looking forward to her first MAC Championship. Szoke has been key in Ohio's freestyle relays this season.
"I'm really excited for the relays because those are my favorite events," she said.
Szoke isn't the only one looking forward to the relays either. Norman cited the 400-meter freestyle relay as the event to watch at the Championship and not just because it's the last event of the meet.
"We have really good freshmen and we have really good seniors in that relay. We broke the 400-free school record at midseason, which was phenomenal. The record itself was from 2009. It was a phenomenal swim by that team," Norman said.
The Bobcats have generated a lot of buzz surrounding the events themselves, but that's not all they're excited for. They're looking forward to seeing the alumni come back to the Aquatic Center and celebrating the Bobcat swim community.
It'll be a bittersweet weekend as all of Ohio's hard work is put to the test, but Ohio knows that it has put its best foot forward for the MAC Championship.
#OUOhYeah
