March 18, 2008

Northwestern's NCAA Championships Notes (PDF Format)

EVANSTON, Ill. -- With its largest contingent of qualifiers since finishing sixth in the nation in 2000, Northwestern enters this weekend's NCAA Championships scheduled for March 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio, with the ability to continue its recent resurgence onto the national stage.

The Wildcats are sending eight representatives to the McCorkle Aquatics Pavilion, where they will combine for 18 swims in 10 individual events in addition to forming a trio of relays. The eight-member squad is Northwestern's biggest since sending nine to the NCAA Championships in 2000.

Senior Andrea Hupman (Lawrenceville, Ga./Brookwood) highlights Northwestern's contingent after setting three Big Ten records, winning two conference titles and earning Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships honors. Hupman is the fifth seed in the 200 free, the ninth seed in the 100 free and the 10th seed in the 50 free.

A three-time honorable mention All-American in the 100 free, Hupman is attempting to become Northwestern's first swimmer to win All-America accolades in all four of her collegiate seasons since Amy Balcerzak and Dominique Diezi accomplished the feat from 1997-2000.

Northwestern as a team was a national power in those four seasons, finishing 12th or better at the NCAA Championships in all four years, including picking up top-10 finishes from 1998-2000. Showcasing its renewed depth and potential with a record-breaking Big Ten Championships, Northwestern is well on its way toward regaining its past form.

Six of Northwestern's eight swimmers broke school records at the Big Ten Championships, while five earned individual NCAA `A' automatic qualification cuts to earn their ways into the field, which is the fastest in NCAA Championships history. The other three qualified as members of Northwestern relays, two of which earned NCAA `A' cuts of their own.

Traditionally six-to-eight `B' provisional times make the invitation cut per event at the NCAA Championships, but the 2008 entry list contains just 10 in the entire field. The speed and quality of the field at the meet makes Northwestern's large group of representatives even more impressive, showcasing the promise of the current state of the program.

For more in-depth information on Northwestern's NCAA squad, read the NUsports.com release announcing the eight-member contingent.

More information, including live results, from the NCAA Championships can be found at ohiostatebuckeyes.com

For Northwestern's complete 2008 NCAA Championships notes package, click on the .pdf at the top of this page.