8B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2009
SWIMMING & DIVING
Medley relay team unites, hopes for qualifying time
lulia Kuzhil, Cherkasy, Ukraine, sophomore, Danielle Herrmann, Itasca. ILL., senior, Ashley Leidigh, Merriam senior,and Maria Mayrovich, Novorossiysk, Russia senior,practice their own strokes individually,then work out kinks during team practice.The medley relay team is trying to qualify for one of the 16 spots in the NCAA Swimming Championships in March.
Individual and solo practices prove to be an effective strategy
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
BY HALLEI MANN hmann@kansan.com
One minute and 38 seconds is a short amount of time. For the Kansas medley relay team, it barely short enough. Sophomore Iulia Kuzhil and seniors Maria Mayrovich, Danielle Herrmann and Ashley Leidigh will have to swim that time or better at the Big 12 Championships if they hope to qualify for the NCAA Championships in March.
The medley relay is one of two team events for Kansas. The relay has four swimmers, each swimming one of four strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. This race is the first event of any meet, and Herrmann said it helps the team to get pumped up early.
"It would be awesome to start the meet off with a win or to qualify for NCAA," Herrmann said.
Herrmann and Leidigh have been on the medley relay team since their sophomore year. This will be their last chance to qualify for NCAA Championships. Leidigh said the team aspect of the medley relay was what made it more interesting than other races.
"It's more fun when you're swimming for three other people and not just for yourself." Leidigh said.
Practice doesn't always involve the entire team. In fact, each swimmer practices her own event separately.
They run the race as a team as it gets closer to the meet. It may seem strange for team members to practice solo, but the strategy is effective — Kansas has won the medley relay the last four out of five times they raced in it.
Finding four swimmers who excel at each stroke is hard, said Mayrovich. Kansas' lineup will
have to make individual performance and team chemistry come together to reach that 1:38 goal.
IULIIA KUZHIL, BACKSTROKE
Coach Clark Campbell brought Kuzhil from Cherkasy, Ukraine. The youngest member of the team
Kuzhil has only been in the United States for five months. Kuzhil said she had several options for university study but decided on Kansas after talking with the coaches.
"They needed a backstroker so that's what I worked on when I got here," Kuzhil said.
Kuzhil is finishing her English studies but doesn't know what she
wants to major in yet. After graduation, Kuzhil says she wants to continue swimming and stay in the United States.
DANIELLE HERRMANN,
BREASTSTROKE
As much as Hermann loves swimming, she eventually wants to work in a hospital as a pharmacist. Herrmann finished her PCAT
Herrmann said she thought she might continue swimming after
about an hour before the medley relay team opened the meet against South Dakota and Northern Iowa with a 12.31 second victory.
"It's more fun when you're swimming for three other people and not just for yourself."
this year while she finished working on her pharmacy degree.
"You can never look too far ahead because everything can change." Herrmann said.
studying, Herrmann said, she and her friends like to play Rock Band or play basketball at the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center.
When she's not swimming or
ASHLEY LEIDIGH Merriam senior
ASHLEY LEIDIGH, BUTTERFLY
college. Leidigh is a journalism major and wants to work in the sports industry after she finishes at Kansas.
Leidigh, the other veteran swimmer on the relay team, wants to take a break from swimming after
"I don't want to do anything right after college," Leidigh said, "I thought I might move to Arizona with my
"I just felt like I had to get here. I would still pick Kansas again if I was given the choice." Mayrovich said. "Not every university has the same level of confidence and spirit as KU." Mayrovich said.
dad and just relax a bit."
plans to keep swimming after college. Mayrovich said that after she completes her degree in economics, she would like to train with the team and swim on the national swimming circuit. Mayrovich said she knew that she was supposed to come to Kansas when Campbell contacted her.
Mayrovich spends her little free time talking to her friends back home on Skype or Facebook. She also enjoys reading inspirational books and is reading Michael Phelps' book right now.
"It's just really interesting to read about other people who have worked so hard and become so successful," Mayrovich said.
MARIA MAYROVICH,
FREESTYLE
The Novorossiysk, Russia, senior
Edited by Carly Halvorson
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