The Barometer Online

Issue date: 1/9/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Curtis Barnard Jenni Dole, a freshman from Spokane, Wash., enters Saturday's meet with two dual wins on the season. Dole has second fastest time in OSU history in the 200 backstroke.

The Oregon State swim team will be looking to dive into a tough competition come Saturday when they face the University of Washington at Dixon Recreation Center's Steven's Natatorium.

OSU currently has a record of 4-7 while the Huskies are slightly stronger with a record of 6-5.

The Huskies and Beavers are Pac-10 conference rivals and the last time they met, Washington prevailed with a final score of 143-111 in Corvallis.

The swimmers to watch in this meet will be senior Saori Haruguchi, juniors Anna Crandall and Anna Larson and freshman Anna Heller. Haruguchi and fellow senior Kayla Rawlings have both qualified for the NCAA championships later this year, both of them in the 200 butterfly.

"The senior class is very strong," Beavers head coach Larry Liebowitz said. "Saori has been amazing."

Haruguchi recently qualified for the Japanese Olympic team in the Beijing Olympics. She also made school history when she won the 200-yard butterfly at the NCAA championships with a record-breaking time of 1:52.39, earning her her third All-American title.

One team member that will not be in the pool will be junior Brittany Iverson. Liebowitz said she was called away for a personal reason, but will return for the next meet. Iverson has four dual wins under her belt, all in the 200 individual medley. This will force OSU to step up their game with one of their leading scorers not swimming against their rivals.

Liebowitz said his team is focused and knows their mission for Saturday.

"I think our goal is just to stand out and race hard," he said. "Everyone will be swimming their best and gearing toward the Pac-10 championships."

Although their ultimate goal may be the Pac-10 championships and eventually the NCAA championships, Liebowitz said their team also keeps a different goal in mind.

"Each individual is trying to focus on improving," Liebowitz said. "If every swimmer can finish their race and look at the scoreboard and smile, then we are doing pretty well."

Continued...

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