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The Rice Thresher
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Owls host last meet before focusing on WAC championship by John C. Chao thresher staff The swim team faces a steep uphill battle every time it competes in a road meet. Since Rice doesn't have a diving team, the Owls basically start each meet facing a 32-0 deficit, provided the other team has enough divers. But Rice has still managed to churn out positive performances, and last weekend was no exception. The Owls competed in three meets in three days last weekend, a format which will prepare them for the three-day Western Athletic Conference Championships, and won one out of the three meets. Rice lost to Texas A&M University 156-138, beat Texas Christian University 128-111 and lost to Southern Methodist University 116-83 last weekend. Because 11th-ranked SMU didn't field divers against Rice, the Owls were disappointed with their finish. "We were all pretty happy with how we swam as a team this weekend," sophomore Mandy Mularz said. "However, we felt that we could have swam better against SMU." The swimming of freshman Toni Ciffilolli drew praise from her teammates. Ciffolilli captured first place in the 100-yard backstroke, the 200-yard backstroke and the 200-yard individual medley against A&M. "Toni had a really good swim," Mularz said. "Bascically, she's doing her part. The whole team and coaches expect people to swim to the best of their abilities - it's exciting when somebody swims the way you know they can." Ciffilolli said she was happy with her performance. "I'm trying to swim strong and help this team reach our goals at the WAC championship," she said. In the A&M meet, Rice forfeited 32 points which cost it the win. "Coach [Doug] Boyd told us A&M was doable," sophomore Mandy Mularz said. "We went into it knowing we had a chance to compete, but if we were to have won, we would have had to have almost a flawless competition. We would have beaten them if not for the diving. Sometimes it's frustrating." Next up for the team was TCU, which has not beaten Rice in the recent past. According to the Owls, this meet was perhaps the most important of the weekend because they need to consistently come through with victories against inferior opponents. Freshman Katie Carey, who had not dived since she was 10 years old, competed in the event and almost beat one of the Horned Frogs. Although the team wished it had fared better against SMU, the Owls know the loss can be amended for in March's WAC Championships. Plus, not having a diving team doesn't hurt as much at the WAC meet because the points get spread out between several other schools. "We were excited we came so close against SMU," Ciffilolli said. "But the major goal we had against them was to see how much more we need to progress before the WAC Championships." Diving isn't the only area Rice faces a deficit in the numbers game. The team has only 11 members, the required NCAA minimum for a Division I swim team. "I like the closeness of a small team," Mularz said. "Even though a larger team would also be good because more people could score points, we don't look at it as a huge disadvantage." And having only 11 swimmers gives freshman swimmers more opportunities to prove they belong. "The freshmen will be better because of it," Mularz said. "It hurts a little bit when experience costs us in a close race, but I've been there and I understand their difficulties." The Owls return to action tomorrow when they host the University of Houston at the Rice Pool.
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