Going into the sixth week of the season, the Utah men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams couldn’t be further apart.
The women’s team, with a 6-0 record, has yet to lose this season, while the men’s team is still looking to get its first win after an 0-3 start.
Head coach Greg Winslow said the difference between the two teams is experience in big races.
“(The men) are a young team8212;there are a lot of younger guys stepping up and learning how to race,” Winslow said. “They just have to get in the water and learn to get their hand on the wall first.”
The experience that freshmen swimmers Whitney Lopus and Hannah Caron got competing at the Olympic trials is a big factor in the success of the women’s team.
“Our women are more experienced and have swam in a lot of big races,” Winslow said. “The versatility of the women is a big factor too8212;we can put a lot of people in a lot of different places.”
Both teams are hoping to get wins over Mountain West Conference foe UNLV this weekend, a team that beat both the men and women last year.
The Utah swimmers will have to perform well in the freestyle events if they want to come away with a win.
“Both the men and women are strong in the sprint and distance freestyle events,” Winslow said. “The distance freestyle is one event we are still looking (for) someone to step up in.”
UNLV not only beat the Utah teams last season, but finished ahead of them in the MWC championships.
The Rebel men are looking to defend their MWC title from last season, while the women are looking to improve on their second-place finish.
The Utah swimmers are also looking to move up in the conference, as the women were picked as early favorites to win the MWC title. The men are hoping to make a better showing than last year, when they finished last in the conference.
“UNLV is one of the best teams in the conference and this will be a good measuring stick for us,” Winslow said.
Utah will take on the UNLV Rebels Saturday in Las Vegas at 2 p.m.