The Ball State women's swim team will be pulling double duty this weekend, while the men will be able to focus on one goal.
Today the Ball State women will face Marshall in Huntington, West Va. The two teams met earlier this year in Ball State's Coers Invitational, which the Cardinals won.
"This will definitely be a different meet from the last time we saw them, because they are a much different team in dual meets," co-head coach Bob Thomas said. "They are much stronger and faster than even some of our swimmers."
Among their swimmers are Milla Kuurto, Renee Lambert , Emily Edmonson and Erika Nilsson, who just recently broke the school record for the 800-yard freestyle relay by more than five seconds.
Other than the 800 free, Marshall also prides themselves in all other freestyles, both relays and individuals.
If Friday's meet isn't already going to be tough for the Cards, they face the No. 2 team in the conference Saturday, when they travel to Ohio University.
The women Bobcat team is led by Ilse Petersen, a native of South Africa who has been an anchor in her first year. Last weekend she captured first place in both individual events in which she participated, then helped the Bobcats set pool records in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
Last year, when the Cardinals and the Bobcats went head to head, it came down to the last meet. Unfortunately, the Cards fell short by losing the last event by just tenths of a second.
"It was real rough," Thomas said. "We would really like to get them to that point again, though. If we do, hopefully we will be able to have a different ending."
This meet is important to the women because it is their last one before the MAC Championships which will also be held at Ohio University.
"This meet for us is not only about competition, but also about getting adapt to the pool," Thomas said, "so that when we come here in a few weeks, we will know what to expect."
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