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Hawkeyes Ready for NCAAs By James Allan G one are the days when the University of Iowa After losing three honorable mention All-Americans men's swimming and diving is content with just to graduation, Huff says it's a tribute to the coaches and competing in the NCAA Championships. the Hawkeye swimmers to be back on this stage. "We're not just happy to be at this meet anymore," said UI head coach Marc Long. "It's to go there, score, and move up in the standings." The Hawkeyes have climbed the NCAA standings in each of the past two seasons and are poised for another jump in 2013. Iowa finished 35th in 2011 with four points, before moving up nine spots to 26th at the 2012 NCAA Championships, with 20 points. The Hawkeyes will send six competitors to Indianapolis for the 2013 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships from March 28-30. Freshman Roman Trussov will swim in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke, and sophomore Grant Betulius will compete in the 100 and 200-back stroke. Iowa will also have seniors Jordan Huff and Byron Butler, junior Andrew Marciniak and freshman David Ernstsson competing in the 200 and 400-medley relays. Huff, Butler, Betulius and Ernstsson will also compete in the 800 free relay. Even though Huff is the only Hawkeye swimmer with NCAA Championship experience, the senior says the team is approaching the NCAA meet with same mentality as any other competition this season. "It's the same motto as we've had all season," he said. "Race to win, keep racing, water is water. These guys are really experienced swimmers and even though they haven't been to this meet yet, they have competed at the Olympic Trials and some pretty incredible meets. There isn't a whole lot of preparation they need to do." "We graduated some pretty incredible swimmers last year with Ryan (Phelan), Dunc (Duncan Partridge) and Paul (Gordon)," said Huff, a two-time NCAA honorable mention All-American. "A lot of teams around the country thought we were going to slip. "We have more qualifiers this year than last year, so that shows the type of coaching we have here and the athletes we have on the swim team. It would be a great experience if we can get into the top 25. That would be pretty incredible." For the Hawkeyes to achieve that goal, the athletes need to perform and gain a second swim. "We want to keep moving up, but that takes coming back at night and scoring," said Long. "That's our goal every year, and we want to be much better than the 26th we were last year. It takes individuals to score and you have to be in scoring opportunities. "It would mean a lot (to post another top-26 finish), but in the big picture, we want to leap frog past that. It's a continued development of the program." Long says Huff and the five first-timers will be ready to go. "They're not just going there to sew a patch on their jacket," he said. "They're going there to score." 15