August 29, 2007
The Texas A&M men?â„¢s swimming and diving team will begin fall workouts on Thursday for a challenging 2007-08 schedule which features eight teams that were ranked last season, including a home date against the five-time defending NCAA Champion Auburn Tigers.
The Tigers, who have won the last five NCAA team crowns, come to College Station for a January 12 dual meet at the Texas A&M Student Natatorium. Also coming to the Rec are Louisiana State, Southern Methodist and Pacific for the Art Adamson Invitational and Texas for the annual dual meet. The Aggies go on the road to face Missouri, Notre Dame, Purdue, Northwestern, SMU and LSU.
?There?â„¢s no question that we?â„¢re going to be swimming against top-level competition,? fourth-year Aggie swimming coach Jay Holmes said. ?The guys are excited about racing them. The swimmers we will see during the regular season are the same ones we will see at the NCAA meet. We look at our schedule as an integral part of getting ready for conference and nationals.?
The Texas A&M coaching staff will welcome 25 swimmers and four divers back to campus as the Aggies begin their quest for a 13th consecutive top 25 finish at the NCAA Championships. The Aggie swimming and diving team?â„¢s top 25 streak is tied with women?â„¢s soccer for the longest in school history for any sport.
?We?â„¢re excited to get back in the pool as a team,? Holmes said. ?We have a strong core of swimmers coming back from last year, and the new guys coming in are capable of having an immediate impact. We had so many question marks at this time last year, but that?â„¢s not the case this season.?
Holmes has 18 returnees back from last year?â„¢s team, including a pair of defending Big 12 Champions in senior Alejandro Jacobo and sophomore Israel Duran. Also back in the fold is fifth-year senior Ozzie Gardner, who missed the 2007-08 season with an injury. Bolstering the swim crew is the addition of Holmes?â„¢ seven-member 2007 signing class.
With nine-time Big 12 diving champion Eric Sehn redshirting in 2007-08, Aggie diving coach Kevin Wright?â„¢s diving crew will consist of two sophomores and a pair of incoming freshmen. Sehn will spend 2007-08 preparing to land a spot on the Canadian Olympic team.
The Aggies start the season with a dual against Missouri on Oct. 18 in Ames, Iowa, and then will compete in the annual Big 12 Relays on Oct. 19, which are hosted by Iowa State.
TEXAS A&M MEN?â„¢S SWIMMING & DIVING
2007-08 Schedule
Date Opponent Site
Oct. 18 Missouri Ames, Iowa
Oct. 19 Big 12 Relays Ames, Iowa
Nov. 2 Notre Dame/Purdue West Lafayette, Ind.
Nov. 3 Northwestern/Purdue West Lafayette, Ind.
Nov. 16-18 Art Adamson Invitational College Station, Texas
Jan. 12th Auburn College Station, Texas
Jan. 19th LSU Baton Rouge, La.
Feb. 2nd SMU Dallas, Texas
Feb. 8th Texas College Station, Texas
Feb. 27 - Mar 1 Big 12 Championships Austin, Texas
March 6 - 9 American Short Course Championships Austin, Texas
March 13 - 15 Zone Diving TBA
March 27-29 NCAA Championships Federal Way, Wash.