Senior MSU swimmer Marina Borri will be one of the five Spartans competing at AT&T Winter National Championships. (Photo courtesy MSU Athletic Communications)
Five MSU swimmers are looking to take a big step in their careers as they compete in this year's AT&T Winter National Championships in Federal Way, Wash., from Dec. 3 through Dec. 5.
The event is an opportunity for the best swimmers in the nation — from high school athletes to olympians — to showcase their talents and, hopefully, post a time fast enough to earn them a spot on the Olympic team.
MSU will have five swimmers making an appearance at this year's Winter Nationals — senior Ian Rodriguez in the 100 backstroke, senior Marina Borri in the 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke, senior Elizabeth Brown in the 200 butterfly, junior Alec Kandt in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke and 200 IM and junior Adam Marsh in the 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke.
For Rodriguez, this competition is a chance for him to earn a spot on the Puerto Rico Olympic team if he is able to post a fast enough time in the 100 backstroke.
"He (Rodriguez) needs to get an international time to see if he can make the Olympic team for Puerto Rico, so this is a big deal for him this week," swimming and diving head coach Matt Gianiodis said. "He won the Puerto Rican championship in the spring, and that's really spring boarded him to this meet."
As far as preparation for the Winter Nationals goes, Kandt said it is similar to the preparation the swimmers go through for their NCAA meets.
"Preparation doesn't change much," Kandt said. "It's a nice meet, about six months out of trials. It's nice to see where you're at (and) to see what, looking forward, you have to do for trials."
For Borri, this competition is a chance for her to continue her swimming career beyond her years at MSU.
"Nationals is on a larger scale than dual meets are," Borri said. "It's a little bit more competitive, a little bit higher caliber of racing. ... For me, since I'm a senior, this is an Olympic year. So my goal is just to have the best swims I can, hopefully get my best times and, if it's in the cards, get the Olympic trial cut for the 200 breaststroke."
Gianiodis isn't setting any high expectations for his swimmers, but putting faith in his top swimmers to work hard and swim the best they can.
"I just want the kids to do their best," Gianiodis said. "I really haven't set myself up with expectations one way or the other. I think we did really, really well a couple weeks ago with the whole group at the Northwestern Invitational, and these kids have trained pretty hard. They should do well, but I don't really like expectations. Just do your best."
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