Although the nationally-ranked Massachusetts swimming and diving teams won't be together this weekend, UMass uniforms will be out in full force. Coach Mandy Hixon's divers are set to depart this morning for Saturday's Galbraith Invitational in New Jersey, while the remainder of the men's and women's teams will both compete in Amherst.
The No. 19 Minutewomen are set to take on Northeastern for the second time this month, while the illness-riddled No. 9 Minutemen have scheduled an intra-squad scrimmage. In New Jersey, UMass fields two diving rosters that have captured first-place finishes at every meet this season.
Freshman diving stud Jason Cook leads the way for the Minutemen, with veterans Byron Johnson and Adam Duffield.
Men's Head Coach Russ Yarworth lauded Cook's transition to college diving thus far, but cautioned that Galbraith might be the freshman's first true test.
"I think this weekend will be a little more challenging for him," Yarworth predicted, speaking at a point in the season where Cook has only lost one event. "The competition level will be a little bit higher. This is what the divers have been pointing to."
The Galbraith competitive field will include Penn State, University of Pennsylvania, La Salle, Yale, Army and host Rutgers.
Although Hixon's divers will be on the road, a mutual agreement between UMass and NU states that diving scores from the Terrier Invitational will be counted at Saturday's dual meet, much to the delight of head coach Bob Newcomb.
"It's advantageous to us because our diving is so strong," he noted, highlighting a squad led by veterans Karen Upperco, Anne Fogerty and Sarah Horstmann. "It's nice to know that there's strength at the other end of the pool all the time and you don't have to worry about it"
Upperco notched two first-place finishes at the BU Invitational, and has five overall.
Fresh off a strong showing in Boston the Minutewomen return to Amherst on Saturday to face familiar faces from a Huskies squad that placed second overall at BU. Newcomb, whose squad was a mere 74 points removed from second-place, said he's looking to see how UMass performs physically.
"We match up very well [with Northeastern]," he pointed out. "The interesting thing is how the teams respond after having Thanksgiving off and then getting back up into training."
The Minutewomen had multiple days off prior to and following the three-day Boston tournament.
Rest has been key for the men as well, as UMass has battled a litany of illness and injuries recently. Roster numbers were noticeably down at Thursday's practice, as a third men's swimmer has been diagnosed with mononucleosis.
Additionally, two Minutemen are nursing injuries. Yarworth noted star sprinter Juan Moliere was "still a little sore" and may rest him some.
Yarworth sought a silver lining amidst the slew of setbacks.
"We're really battling sickness," he said. "We're just going to get through it. I guess the good thing is it's hitting us in December rather than in February when we're getting closer to A-10s."
Saturday's action at Joseph R. Rodgers pool begins at 12 noon.
Holly J. Galvin can be reached at hgalvin@student.umass.edu.
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