GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Alaska Nanooks swim team will compete for the final time during the 2015 calendar year this week, as they'll participate in the Calvin College Winter Invitational. The three-day event starts on Thursday and runs through Saturday. Race time for all three days is slated for 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. AKST start times.
The Nanooks dive back into the water for the first time since Nov. 14, as they'll be pitted against some of the top NCAA Division II swim teams, as well as one NCAA Division I team in Valparaiso University. No. 6 Grand Valley State, along with Northern Michigan, who finished 17th at last year's NCAA Division II Championships, highlight the eight-team field competing at the Venema Aquatic Center this week.
In their last out, the Nanooks suffered a 115-90 defeat to Cal State East Bay, yet picked up several first-place finishes. Alaska head coach Scott Lemley has high expectations for this meet, as his team will be competing in their first event outside of the Patty Center Pool this season.
"We've set some very high individual and team goals this week," stated the head man. "We've never been to Grand Rapids before, but we hear it is a fast pool. With the fast competition and our season having gone well, I believe we'll be very competitive with every team at the meet."
The top 16 finishers in each events, both individual and relay, will earn points for their respective team. Alaska has several swimmers seeded inside the top 16 for this meet.
Sophomore All-American Martha Hood will be the top seed in the 100-yard backstroke, and will also be seeded inside the top five in the 50-yard freestyle (3rd) and 100-yard butterfly (4th). Junior All-American Victoria Adams is also seed second in a pair of events, as is sophomore Kate Mathews.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks swim team, follow @NanooksSwim on Twitter or like Alaska Nanooks Swimming on Facebook.
