Posted on Kansan.com February 25th, 2014. Ran in Kansan newspaper February 25th, 2014.

For some Kansas swimmers, this will be their last splash of the season. The Kansas swimming and diving team (7-5) heads to the Big 12 Conference Meet hosted by the University of Texas in Austin on Feb. 26. Unlike most sports, women’s swimming and diving isn’t represented at all schools in the conference. Schools fielding swimming and diving teams are Iowa State, Kansas, TCU, Texas, and West Virginia.

Texas has won 11 of the past 15 conference championships on the women’s side. The only other team winning the conference title in the past 14 years is Texas A&M, who has since switched to the SEC.

Kansas has faced just two conference opponents over the season, TCU and Iowa State, so the Jayhawks have some new competition. Kansas fell to both teams in dual meets over the season. However, Kansas has seen Iowa State twice, once in duals and once in the Kansas Classic. Kansas placed first in the Kansas Classic, with Iowa State finishing third.

The Jayhawks last competed three weeks ago in Ames when for their final dual of the season, they ended up losing, just getting edged out. “We will use this as motivation and swim better at the Big 12 Championships,” said coach Clark Campbell.

The conference meet spans over four days, starting with men’s 1M diving at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 26. The first women’s event is the 200 Medley Relay, starting at 6:00 p.m. that same day.