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27 T he University of Iowa swimming and diving team is preparing for championship season in the sun of the Sunshine State. e Hawkeyes' yearly trip balances intensive training with team bonding on the beaches of Sarasota, Florida. "Training trip is always one of the weeks that the team looks forward to the most," senior Sam Dumford said. "Being able to focus only on training and being together as a team lets us all become closer as a team. is trip lands at such a great time coming into the final stretch of the season." Aer a semester of classes and a short holiday break, the team prepares for demanding two-a-day practices. Unlike normal life as a student athlete, practices on the training trip allow each member of the team to separate their regular life of classes and family to focus solely on swimming. "We do a tough block of training, including swim sessions, lis, yoga, and other physical activities as a team," senior Hannah Burvill said. "One of the most important things in this camp is to work on the small details like technique and transitions while the training is tough to help transfer that over to when we race at the Big Ten Championships in February." is isn't a normal vacation for anyone on the roster. While each athlete gets to enjoy the Florida sun, there isn't a lot of joy that comes with a 6,000- yard practice. Nevertheless, spirits are high among the team as the stresses of normal life seem to fade away. "Not having school or any of the other typical college-life stressors and just being essentially on a vacation with practice gives us all the chance to focus on training," Dumford said. "Even though it is tough training and we are all beat down, we get to come out of the week excited to race in the upcoming two months and get closer as a team from spending the week together practicing and being on the beach." Leading into championship season, the Hawkeyes will face Big Ten rivals Illinois and Northwestern, while also fielding competition against Notre Dame and Western Illinois. Iowa will also travel to the Shamrock Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, before entering the season's final stretch. e Big Ten Championships returns to Iowa City, Iowa, on Feb. 19, when the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center hosts the women's competition. e men will head to Bloomington, Indiana, on Feb. 26 for its conference championships at the IU Natatorium. Above all, the preparation that happens this winter during the training trip provides each member of the team a chance to get to know one another on a deeper level. ese bonds strengthen performances later in the season and form a cohesiveness throughout the roster. JANUARY SCHEDULE Jan. 11 Illinois (W) Notre Dame (M/W) Jan. 18 at Northwestern (M/W) Jan. 24-25 at Shamrock Invitational (M/W)