With an up and down start to 2012, BYU’s swim and dive teams are ready to take on rival Utah in the last home swim meet of the season on Jan. 27.
Here are 10 reasons to be there:
1. Escape the cold. The Richards Building pool area is kept warm and now that some snow has finally fallen, take advantage of a little summer heat. A few minutes poolside will help anyone forget how miserable it is outside.
2. The meet is against Utah. A little competition never hurt anyone, and what better time to experience the electric atmosphere of competitive swimming than against BYU’s biggest rival? The schools may no longer share a conference but the rivalry will always live on.
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“I just want to finish well,” Watson said. “[The end] kind of sneaked up on me. I want to go out doing my best.”
4. Swimming is exciting. During the Olympics, swimming is one of the most popular events. Swimming is not difficult to understand and practically every race comes down to the wire. It is nerve-racking and intense in all the best ways.
As for what makes the swim and dive meets exciting, Watson thinks it is the overall experience; once people do finally go they realize what they have been missing out on.
5. Coach Tim Powers. After this season, Powers is retiring, having spent 37 years as head coach of the Cougars’ swim team. Seeing a swim coach in action is something special.
“We have to perform our best,” swimmer Jordan Fletcher said. “We owe it to [Powers] and all those who have gone before us.”
6. It’s the last home swim meet of the season. Take advantage of the opportunity to see the swimmers in action at home because they won’t compete around here again until October.
7. Admission is free.
8. It’s Senior Night. There are 10 seniors on the roster and each of them will be recognized in a small ceremony before competition begins.
The swim and dive teams are pretty big, so “chances are you know one of [the athletes],” said Fletcher, regarding what he thinks is the biggest reason to come to a swim meet. Supporting “the people there you know,” even if they are not seniors, can make a big difference, especially because this is the last home meet.
9. Other BYU teams aren’t playing. All of BYU’s other sports teams are either off or on the road tonight.
10. It’s a chance for a break. The add/drop deadline has passed. Classes have finally settled down. Things are somehow getting stressful already. Why not relax with your friends at the swim meet?
The meet starts at 6 p.m. Get there early and wear Cougar blue.
