Oct. 5, 2012
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt swimming kicks off the 2012-13 season on Saturday, Oct. 6, when the Commodores travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Arkansas Relays.
Action is slated to begin at 11 a.m. at the Arkansas Natatorium. The Commodores will square off against Arkansas, North Texas, SMU and Missouri State in 10 relay events.
Head coach Jeremy Organ is in his seventh season as the head swimming coach and he brings back an experienced group of swimmers.
“We are looking forward to this first meet, and with it being a relay meet we are really looking forward to having fun with this format and competing as a team,” Organ said. “The meet will provide us with some great in-conference and out-of-conference competition. I think we are all excited to get the first meet under our belts.”
This year’s squad is made up of six seniors, five juniors, seven sophomores and only two freshmen. The team will begin the year with a lot of confidence after Chrissy Oberg represented Vanderbilt at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb.
As a team, Coach Organ really likes what he has seen in practice so far this season.
“(Practices have) been going very well so far, the girls did a fantastic job in the early season conditioning with weights and dry land,” Organ said. “Now the focus is starting to shift to the pool and everyone has continued to do a great job.”
Vanderbilt should be a well-rounded unit this season as the Commodores should excel in multiple events.
“I think the team is becoming much more complete and will be competitive in all the events, but I think the breaststroke may end up being our strongest event,” Organ said.
Following the Arkansas Relays, Vanderbilt will host its first of five home meets this season on Wednesday, Oct. 10, in a dual with LSU at the Centennial Sportsplex. Start time is at 3 p.m.