Women's Swimming and Diving Look to Regain MAC Championship
2/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
OXFORD, Ohio -- The quest to win its fifth Mid-American Conference Championship in the last six years begins Thursday, Feb. 22, when Miami University's women's swimming and diving team competes in the championship in Buffalo, N.Y.
Head coach Dave Jennings looks to propel his team back to the top of the MAC after Miami's four-year conference championship winning streak came to an end last year against Ohio in Athens.
Miami will have to perform at the highest level if its wants to get back to the top. Eastern Michigan, Ohio and Ball State will all try to stand in the way of the red and white regaining the MAC title. Eastern Michigan finished the MAC regular season with a 6-0 record.
Senior Cassie Eakins (Xenia, Ohio/Xenia) looks to defend her 2000 championships on both the one- and three-meter diving boards.
Jennings' team has several contenders for MAC titles. Junior Hillary Mason (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls) and freshman Amy Miranda (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart) have been two of the top swimmers in the MAC in the 500 and 1,650 yard freestyle.
Junior Emily Nayes (Eden Prarie, Minn./Eden Prarie) is a serious threat to win titles in the 200 yard individual medley and the 100 and 200 yard breastroke.
The conference championship will run Thursday through Saturday, with the preliminary rounds beginning at 11 a.m. and the finals starting at 7 p.m. each day.