Spartans aside, Texas rustles into Canham

By Steve Jackson

Daily Sports Writer

A visit from Michigan State does not carry the sense of rivalry in swimming that it does in the other sports.

"They just don't have the talent to compete with us right now," Michigan women's swimming coach Jim Richardson said frankly. "They are well coached, and they will give a strong effort, but Texas is the team we are most concerned with."

"We feel like we are going into a dogfight wearing Milkbone underwear with Texas and Michigan from a scoring standpoint," Michigan State head coach Jim Lutz said. "We are doing some major overhauling with the program and we still have a ways to go."

The Michigan women battle both teams tomorrow at 3 p.m.

The Wolverines will also swim a non-scoring match against Texas, Saturday at 9 a.m.

Texas already has lost to Wisconsin - a team that beat Michigan 150-144 on Oct. 27 at the Southern Methodist Classic.

The seventh-ranked Longhorns will be packing some star power on their trip to Ann Arbor, headlined by senior freestyler Colleen Lann - an All-American in seven events last year.

"She's hotter than a two-dollar pistol in Detroit right now," Richardson said. "The only competition she'll have here will be the clock and the pool. We just don't have that kind of speed."

Texas' freestyles are also boosted by senior Erin Phenix - an Olympic gold medalist for the U.S. in the 400-meter relay in Sydney.

Michigan also boasts a gold medalist of its own in Samantha Arsenault.

Freshman sensation Tealin Kelemen will look to continue her winning ways on the board for Michigan.

Kelemen is undefeated thus far in her collegiate career. But she will face stiff competition this week from last year's Big 12 diving champion Kristen Marquis of Texas.

While both teams have a number of big-name swimmers, this match up of two top 10 teams may be dictated by the lesser-knowns.

"Every race counts," Richardson said. "In a matchup as close as this one is on paper, everyone needs to step up and swim above and beyond their potential.

"Any time you have a chance to compete against a team with as much talent and tradition as Texas, you need to be at your very best."

Texas diving coach Matt Scoggin echoed Richardson's thoughts.

"Both teams have strong traditions in swimming and diving," Scoggin said. "Texas knows that this will be a tough meet."

Since its last home meet, Michigan has posted two strong performances.

Two weeks ago, the Wolverines gave then-No. 9 North Carolina a challenge in Chapel Hill despite placing a number of swimmers in secondary events.

And this past weekend, Michigan topped No. 2 California and No. 22 Penn State in dramatic fashion at the Continental Classic in Houston.

The recent success has yet to impress Richardson.

"We are still very much a team in transition," Richardson said. "We aren't at the level that we need to reach in late January. Our race tempo just isn't where it has to be yet.

"I was pleased with the mindset that those 10 girls showed us the last couple weeks, but we need to have that 100 percent across the board. That should be ingrained in the fabric of this team."