Last Chance for Lady'Backs in the Water

FAYETTEVILLE-The University of Arkansas swimming and diving team has one last chance to qualify for the postseason.

Arkansas hosts the Razorback Invitational that features Drury and Henderson State, Saturday, Feb. 26, at 11 a.m. inside the Arkansas Natatorium. Since the invitational only includes swimming events, the Lady’Back divers travel to Athens, Ga., for the Bulldog Invitational with competition beginning Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Gabrielsen Natatorium on the University of Georgia campus.

Seniors Zsuzsa Csobanki and Whitney Lynn are the only Lady’Backs participating at the invitational as they try to improve their season best times to qualify for the NCAA Championships in West Lafayette, Ind., March 17-19. Csobanki, a freestyle specialist, competes in the 50 free with Lynn going the distance in the 1,650 free.

Arkansas swimming head coach Anne Goodman James said she was optimistic about Csobanki and Lynn’s chances to qualify for nationals.

“We’re pleased to have the opportunity to take another shot at the national qualifying standards,” Goodman James said. “They tend to swim well at home, so hopefully it puts them over the top and into the NCAA Championships.”

Freshmen divers Jamie Hyslop and Hilarie Wilson are attempting to qualify for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, March 11-13, in College Station, Texas. Freshman Brieanne Kushner qualified for zones against Tennessee, Jan. 10.

Lady’Back diving coach Scott Reich said he feels that his young crew has the opportunity to make a splash in the postseason.

“If they can qualify for zones, they have a real good shot at the NCAAs,” Reich said. “We just have to take it one step at a time and I feel good about it.”

For more information on Arkansas swimming and diving, log on to www.ladybacks.com.