Ball State men’s swimming and diving team will travel to Ypsilanti, Mich., this weekend to compete in the Eastern Michigan Invitational.
The Cardinals recently finished second in the Doug Coers Invitational with multiple swimmers posting more than one first place title. The team is ready to return to the pool and improve its times once again.
“I’d like to see post their personal best times for the season up to this point,” coach Bob Thomas said. “That’s the No. 1 goal.”
Ball State will face the University of Findlay in the invitational after defeating the Oilers in the Coers Invitational. Eastern Michigan, Oakland and Wayne State will be among other teams in the invitational.
“We will be going up against the defending Eastern [Mid-American Conference] champs [Eastern Michigan] as well as some of the top Division II schools in the country,” Thomas said. “It will be a very competitive meet. Probably more competitive than our conference meet.”
The meet will pose rivalry between the teams competing. Eastern Michigan recently competed against Wayne State and Oakland. Eastern Michigan was able to beat Wayne State, though fell short to Oakland.
Thomas said he hopes the Cardinals can finish the meet where they did last year without the help of the graduated seniors.
“That would be a big step for our guys,” he said.
Speed was a main factor in placing second to Grand Valley State at the Doug Coers Invitational. The team will focus on race work and improving their times to prepare for the weekend.
“We are past the building phase,” Thomas said. “We are hitting a plateau in terms of volume. It’s a matter of specificity.”
The invitational will be a two-day event beginning Friday afternoon and finishing up Saturday night in the Jones Natatorium.
