On Wednesday, the women's swimming and diving team travels to Oklahoma City to compete in the Mountain West Conference championships.
And for a team that is laden with freshmen, these are uncharted waters, head coach Tracy Ljone said.
Ljone said she wants to see how her freshmen experience an intense and pressure-filled atmosphere.
"We have 12 girls that are new to the championships and have never experienced anything like it," she said. "But they are young and very excited to get out there."
Marissa Campbell, whom Ljone named as the best swimmer on the team, is a freshman, but Campbell said she does not feel the pressure yet.
She said she is already one of the leaders of the team and has no problem carrying that title.
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"I like being a leader and have the rest of the team see that I'm very positive and someone the girls can look up to and talk to," she said.
Campbell will have her chance to lead the Lobos: She will swim the B-Cuts for the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke in addition to a few relays. However, in order to receive a coveted spot in the NCAA Championships, Campbell and her teammates must make a splash against the conference. In order to do that, Ljone stressed the importance of the basics.
"We need to go in there and compete for top-three finishes in all events, receive some best times and try and score points as a team," she said. "And if we do all of that, we then hope to qualify for nationals."
Although Campbell may lead the charge, Katrina McLoughlin, the lone senior on the team, will have her last chance at a championship. She will try her hand in freestyle and fly and swim a leg in a relay.
Ljone said she is proud of McLoughlin's accomplishments in the pool but that she is more impressed by her leadership.
"(Katrina) is a great leader and team captain that has led by example of what she's been able to do in the water," Ljone said. "She has been great for us because of her versatility to swim in so many different events. I hope she gets some top times so she can go to the NCAAs."
At the deep end of the pool, freshman diver Aubrey Bush, who garnered the team's top scores in the 3-meter springboard and platform, will also try for her best scores this season.
After capturing first place and the highest platform score (247.35) in the conference at the Air Force Diving Invitational, Bush said that this is the biggest meet for the freshmen.
Campbell said the freshmen can build their legacy by swimming well and qualifying for nationals.
"We need to go in and perform well," Campbell said. "So, when we come out of there, people will know who we are."
Swimming and Diving at MWC Championships
Wednesday, All Day
