Jan. 17, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 17 Northwestern returns to the pool at the Norris Aquatics Center for the final time in 2007-08 with a 2 p.m. showdown Saturday, Jan. 19, against No. 21 Notre Dame.
The meet is Senior Day for the Wildcats, honoring NU's nine-member senior class. Northwestern is 5-5 on the dual-meet season entering Saturday, while Notre Dame comes into this weekend with a 3-4 record. The Irish host Louisville Friday, Jan. 18, before making their way to Evanston.
Northwestern is coming off a split-squad weekend that saw eight Wildcats swimmers and one diver finish third out of four college opponents at the prestigious Classic at SMU in Dallas, Texas. The Wildcats topped No. 19 USC in that meet. The rest of the NU squad remained at home, sweeping a double-dual meet against Division III opponents Carthage College and Olivet College.
Senior Kyle Bubolz (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North) is the reigning Big Ten Swimmer of the Week following his performance in Dallas. His time of 46.80 in the 100 fly was Northwestern's first NCAA 'A' automatic qualification time of the year, and currently ranks fifth in the nation in the event.
Junior Eric Nilsson (Weston, Mass./Weston) is having a very strong overall season, ranking in the top-16 in the nation in three separate events. Nilsson is No. 16 in both the 200 free and 200 fly, while ranking No. 10 in the 500 free according to collegeswimming.com. Nilsson swam NCAA 'B' cuts in all three of those events at last weekend's Classic.
Saturday's meet also is men's swimming's BIG GAME sponsored by Chipotle. The first 50 students in attendance will receive a coupon for a free Chipotle burrito. During one of the diving breaks, students will compete in a power boat race for a quarter's supply of burritos. Free Entenmann's will be provided while supplies last, and anyone can bring a college t-shirt from another school to SWAP for a free Northwestern t-shirt!