While the university continues to talk about the excitement surrounding the men's basketball team, a different kind of lane will be contested this week in Ypsilanti, Mich, as Eastern Michigan, Miami of Ohio, Ohio University, Ball State and UB will all vie for Mid-American Conference supremacy in swimming and diving.
From Thursday to Saturday the UB men's swimming and diving team (3-4, 1-3 MAC) will take to the water in hopes of personal bests, NCAA qualifications, and a team victory at this year's conference championships.
Coming off a strong performance at last weekend's Eastern College Athletic Conference championships, where they placed sixth out of a field of 29, the Bulls look to the MAC Championships with high hopes and renewed confidence.
"I can't stress enough how important he ECAC's are in preparation for the Mid-American Championships," stated head coach Bud Termin in an e-mail. "With so many good teams and individual swimmers from all over the East being there, the quality of the meet is on par with what we experience at the MAC's."
"We don't go into the MAC championship with the same 'big meet' anxiety, because we have already had some good performances, and those are fresh in our minds."
One of those good performances this past weekend was provided by sophomore diver and North Tonawanda H.S. graduate Patrick Lee. Lee became an ECAC champion after setting a six-dive total of 314.10 points in the one-meter diving board event. He broke the previous ECAC record of 308.93 points, which he set back in 2002, ultimately making him one of the favorites heading into this Thursday.
"After not doing as well as he (Lee) wanted on the three-meter earlier in the meet, he told me he was going to dive great on the one-meter and win," stated Termin. "I was really proud of the fact that the turned a big corner this weekend as a Division I athlete, and I think he will perform right at the top of the meet this coming week at the MAC's."
Also racing well for the Bulls was junior Mark Sy, who finished fifth in the 200- butterfly, as well as fourth in the 400-individual medley.
The Bulls' 400-freestyle squad also finished strong, placing seventh with a time of 3:09.93.
Perhaps UB's best hopes of bringing home hardware were lost when junior Aviv Oren from Rishon Le-Zion, Israel returned home earlier this month to be with his ill father. Oren is the reigning MAC champion in the 100-breastroke, but unfortunately will not be able to defend his 2003 title.
As far as a clear-cut team favorite, Eastern Michigan and Miami of Ohio sit atop the conference standings - with UB succumbing to them during the season 88-135 and 107-135 respectively - but as any coach will tell you, the margin for error in Division I swimming is veritably minuscule.
"Hundredths of a second are the difference at this level of swimming," stated Termin. "Eastern Michigan has terrific team depth, which really sets them apart from the rest of the conference as far as team standings go this season."
"Some of the best swimmers and divers in the MAC are from the University at Buffalo, and there's no question that our presence will be felt at this weeks Mid-American Championships."
Opening ceremonies are set to begin at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
