BYU women's swim and dive will be taking on the University of California, Berkeley today in the Richards Building.
The Cal Bears women's team has an impressive reputation in swimming having won last year's national championship and having two olympic swimmers on the team.
'We are looking forward to competing against Cal,' Head Coach John Brooks said in a press release. 'They are the defending National Champions and it will be a great opportunity for our women. We hope we can get a large crowd to come out and support us.'
Last week the BYU women's team competed against San Diego and Pacific in the Pacific Invitational. While San Diego pulled ahead, BYU made an impressive effort in the pool and beat out Pacific.
Team captain Londyn Clawson placed fourth in the 100 breast stroke last week and is excited for today's meet.
'I always swim better when there's competition and Cal is very very fast,' Clawson said. 'We need to make sure we're giving it our all and this is our first meet at home so we need to bring our 'A' game and it will just boost our confidence for our next upcoming meet.'
Clawson said the team is well-aware that this meet will be one of the biggest challenges the team has faced thus far in the season, but they are looking forward to the competition.
'There's going to be a couple olympians at this meet. It will be really beneficial to swim against them,' Clawson said. 'It will help us swim fast and push us and let us know what we have to work on for the rest of the season.'
Freshman Alexandria Sorensen finished in 2nd last week in the women's 50.
'I think our captains have done a really good job of getting everyone pumped up for it and just uniting us as a team,' Sorensen said. 'We have a title and a name to stand up for... so we're just going into it like we are into any other meet.'
Sorensen admitted that the thought of swimming against Cal has been intimidating, but said the team is optimistic and excited to race.
'I've learned that it doesn't really matter who your competition is as long as you decide to look at the person next to you and just decide that you're going to beat that one person, ' Sorensen said. 'Then it doesn't matter how fast they are because that really pushes you to do even better and to reach your full potential.'
Sorensen also said the meet will greatly benefit the team further down the road.
'By the time the end of the season comes our competition won't be as intimidating and we'll just be able to know we've raced with the best so that we're ready to beat anyone else we're racing.' Sorensen said.
The cougars take on the Cal bears tonight at 5 p.m. at the Richards Building pool.