By Gavin Lapaille

The University of Louisville men’s and women’s swim teams will compete in the Big East Championships Feb. 14-18 in Long Island, N.Y. Several athletes are expected to perform very well for the Cards, but head coach Arthur Albiero has not underestimated the task at hand.

“The Big East meet is a marathon,” said Albiero. “It’s more than just swimming, it is about mental toughness and how tough you can be. It is a roller coaster that goes up and down and we have to keep fighting to get through it.”

The men’s and women’s teams concluded their regular seasons against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The defending Big East Champions proved too much for the Cards, as both the men and women were defeated in their final tune-up for the Big East Championships. The women’s team finished the season at 10-3, including wins over Vanderbilt University, Western Kentucky University, and Big East foes West Virginia University and University of Cincinnati among others. The men finished 3-10 on the season, but won meets against Wright State University, University of Iowa, and Drury University throughout the season.

Last season, the women finished fourth at the Big East Championship while the men finished sixth. Sophomore Vali Preda won three events as a freshman last season, touching first in the 100 and 200-breaststroke and the 200-individual medley, and was the only athlete to win three events. Preda is hopeful that trend continues at the Big East Championship.

“I hope to win all three events at the Big East Championship just as I did last season,” said Preda, who has made NCAA B cut times in the 100-breast.

The women also have several swimmers who should perform well at the Big East Championship. Heather Meng, a Big East Champion from last season and school record holder in the 100-breast, qualified for the NCAA B meet last season and has already posted qualifying times this season. Anna Dishuck has also qualified for the NCAA B meet in the 200-IM.

The women also have two relays that have posted NCAA B meet times and figure to perform well at the Big East Championship. The 200-free-relay team of Dishuck, Liz Halet, Melanie Greyling and Emily Rabe made the cut, and the 400-free relay team of Dishuck, Halet, Greyling and Leslie VanWinkle also already qualified.

Swimmers who could make a splash in individual races at the Big East Championship include Amanda Henleben, VanWinkle and Greyling, as all have been major point scorers for the Cards all season. Rafal Kucha, Chris Lindauer and Andrei Teudean should also perform well for the men.

“I think we are going to do really well at the Big East Championship,” said Meng.

Diving could be a particular strong point for both the men and women, as divers Robbie Lewis, Sarah Sandroni and Marianne Bradford have been excellent on the boards all season. Lewis has done particularly well, as he set the school record in the three-meter board against Wright State and has been clutch for the Cards.

Overall, Albiero likes the Cards’ chances in Long Island.

“I think this group has done very well with their consistency in their training and that will show,” said Albiero. “The little things are what are going to make the difference. We are now resting and polishing the details, getting ready for the Big East.”