S&D Opens Spring in Virginia for Tri-Meet
BLACKSBURG, Va. – The University of Miami swimming and diving team will open its spring calendar this weekend with a trip to the Christiansburg Aquatic Center for a meet against host Virginia Tech, Harvard, Virginia and Wisconsin.
The competition will be the first for the swimming team since the Georgia Tech Invitational in late November. The men’s and women’s divers will look to continue their momentum from the U.S. Diving Nationals in mid-December.
“We are ready to get back into competition, no doubt about it,” head coach Andy Kershaw said. “I know the divers are anxious to get back on the boards, although they haven’t had quite as long of a layoff as the swimmers. We’ve put in a lot of hard work since our last competition, and we’re anxious to start getting into the season.”
Kershaw said the team gained a lot of confidence during its month-long break from live competition. He is hoping to see dividends from time spent practicing and competing as a team.
“I can tell they’ve got a lot of confidence coming into the meet. They’re prepared, ready to perform and they’ve put in the work,” he said. “They know it, they can feel it. Now we have to complement that with execution and making sure that we do the little things right.”
Sophomore My Fridell, who showed incredible promise in her first season in the ACC, has the fourth-best time this season in the 100-yard freestyle. She will be competing against the top performer in the event this weekend, which will serve as good preparation for the postseason.
“Primarily, we have to take care of our stuff,” Kershaw said. “That’s first and foremost. If we take care of our business, the rest will fall into place. There are some crucial matchups going on in this meet where some of the top performers in the conference will be battling, and that’s something we’re looking forward to.”
Miami will be bolstered by the return of junior Heather Arseth, one of the team’s top contributors who only competed in one meet before struggling with injury. In addition, senior captain and Virginia native Kat Nicholson will be swimming in front of friends and family – something Kershaw says he’s looking forward to.
“It’s kind of a special thing for me. She and I haven’t talked about it a whole lot, but I’ve tried to put her in a position coming into the meet where I think she’s ready to have some success,” Kershaw said. “That’s important for your senior, your leader and it’s going to be special when it’s happening in her home state.”
