The Wake

Now that school is finally over, most students have begun to steer their minds away from campus life and into the relaxing days of summer. Some may return home to visit old high school friends. Others will pick up a fun summer job that will help them earn a little spending money. But for the Minnesota women’s swim team, relaxation is the last thing on their minds.

With a 2nd place finish at the Big Ten Championship this year, along with a handful of new school records, the Gopher swimmers are on a roll. And what most students fail to realize is that for the swim team, the excitement is just beginning. Why? Because this summer, nine of the women will travel to Irvine, CA to compete in one of the nation’s fastest swim meets—World Championship Trials.

The meet will be held during the first week of August and acts as a gateway to participate in three major national teams. If the women swim fast enough, they will have a chance to represent the United States at the World Championship Games, the World University Games or the Pan American Games.

“Even if my chance of making one of the teams is small, it is still possible,” says Katie Wind, a 21-year-old student at the U. Since she qualified for the United States Olympic Team Trials last summer, Wind plans to swim until 2008 even though she graduated this year. “I just love swimming,” she says. “I am not ready to be done because I know I can keep getting faster.”

And getting faster is exactly what the Gophers are doing. This year the Gophers successfully rearranged the record boards with nine new school records. What’s more, compared to a team of only one girl last year, this year the Gophers took 10 to the NCAA Championship. So, with a pile of great swims behind them, the Gopher National Team will enter the World Championship Trials with confidence.

“I just know that I will do well,” says sophomore Stacy Busack. “Since I swam so well at Big Tens, I have so much more confidence that I will swim well this summer.” Unlike Wind, this will be Busack’s first appearance at World Championship Trials. Although she may lack some national experience, with her 2nd place finish at Big Tens in the 50 yard freestyle, she has a good chance at qualifying for one of the three teams.

“A lot of the girls have a shot at getting on a team,” says co-head coach Kelly Kremer. And with national exposure, Minnesota’s swim team will gain more popularity. “A big team at World Championship Trials raises the competitive level of our program,” says Kremer. “People will start to realize that you can go to Minnesota and swim at the highest level.”

The break down of the three meets is simple. If swimmers finish 1st or 2nd in their event at World Championship Trials, they automatically qualify for the World Championship team. The next step below the World Team is the World University Team. Since only college swimmers can qualify, some of the Gopher women have an opportunity to be a part of this team. If they qualify, they will represent America and compete in Thailand in August of next year. Finally, the swimmers that don’t make the first two teams have a chance to be a part of the Pan American Team—a meet between North and South America.

“I don’t even know what to expect,” says team captain Jenny Hasling. “The idea of someone from Minnesota qualifying for an international team is just amazing to me.” Although it may seem amazing, it is very possible. The World University Team will take on 26 men and 26 women from colleges through out the United States. And with the younger swimmers eliminated it leaves an opening for the Gophers.

“I just feel like we are all so supportive of each other,” notes Hasling. “If someone from our school makes the team, they won’t only be representing our country. They will be representing everyone who swims for the University of Minnesota.” And with that kind of support, the Gopher swimmers can’t go wrong.