For most collegiate swimmers, the Michigan Open was an insignificant event. Because it is a United States Swimming event, not an NCAA meet, the Michigan Open primarily featured high school and club-level swimmers.
With most of the Michigan men's and women's swimming teams taking the weekend off to prepare for the upcoming Big Ten championship, only a few Wolverines competed.
Among those competing was Emily Cocks, who returned to competition for the first time since suffering a knee injury earlier this season.
Last year at this time, she was preparing to swim in the Big Ten and NCAA championships. This year, Cocks was swimming against club- level swimmers. Even though she isn't where she was last year, for Cocks, this was still an important event.
In October, Cocks had arthroscopic surgery to remove a buildup of tissue in her knee. Since then, the sophomore breaststroker has been rehabilitating the knee preparing to return.
In November, Cocks returned to the pool. At first, she was only able to do a couple of breaststroke kicks at a time.
Gradually, the knee became stronger and she could spend more time in the water.
By late December, on the team's training trip to California, Cocks was able to resume a normal swimming routine and was able to do the breaststroke with greater ease.
"We just took it one step at a time," Michigan women's swimming coach Jim Richardson said. "Being able to resume training, being able to do some breaststroke kick, then a little more, and a little more.
"I'm real pleased with (her progress)."
Yesterday, Cocks returned to compete in her first official race since the injury.
"It's been hard, really frustrating, but I'm really motivated now that I'm back breaststroking," Cocks said.
On Saturday, in her first race in more than four months, Cocks swam the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:05.21, good enough for second place. In yesterday's 200 breast, she took second again with a time of 2:24.08.
Even though her times were considerably slower than she was swimming at this time last year, Cocks was satisfied with her performance.
"My breaststroke is basically my kick, so it's been really hard for me to go fast because I don't have my kick," Cocks said. "But it's coming back slowly.
"For not having (in the) trained breaststroke in a couple of months, where I am right now, I think is pretty good."
Cocks hopes to have fully recovered in time to compete for a spot at the U.S. nationals later this year.
"She's got a goal this summer to qualify for the U.S. nationals," Richardson said. "I think she can do it."
Other Wolverines competing at the Michigan Open included Jay Zawacki, John Stites and Scott Meyer.
Zawacki won the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 16:01.96, 17 seconds ahead of his closest competitor.
Meyer and Stites finished first and second, respectively, in the 100 breast, the 200 breast, and the 100 free.
Meyer also won the 200 individual medley, and Stites took first place in the 50 free.
JEANNIE SERVAAS/Daily
Most of the members of Michigan's men's and women's swimming teams may have had a chance to relax this weekend, but that will all end soon. The women's team will head to Indianapolis next weekend for the Big Ten championship, and the men follow the week after.