After a winter break full of two-a-days, fitness training, technique tweaking and stress on the “little things,” the ISU swimming and diving team returns to competition against Illinois at Beyer Hall on Jan. 17.

The Cyclones are coming off a nip-and-tuck meet with their archrival Iowa on Dec. 13. The Hawkeyes defeated the Cyclones 165-135, but they hope to bounce back and get back to racing like they had at the beginning of the fall semester.

“You can take Illinois and Iowa and Nebraska and Kansas and us, and put us all in one pot, and we’ll all look the same,” said ISU coach Duane Sorenson. “[Illinois] is a very solid team. They have all the events covered.”

Sorenson sees Illinois’ freshman Gabbie Stecker as a real talent, but also thinks ISU freshman Karyl Clarete will match up well with the Illinois standout.

Sophomore Marissa Engel would like to finish better as a team this year against Illinois compared to last season.

“As a team, we weren’t as happy with what we could’ve done [last year],” Engel said. “I am really excited for [the meet] to be at home this year because I think we’re going to do a lot better, and the girls know it’s going to be a close meet, so if we get excited, we could win.”

Good spirits surround the ISU swimming and diving team as the team’s mentality and expectation is to pull out a fourth win of the season.

“It’s the little things that really matter most, making sure turns are quick, not breathing too much and not being lazy with any technique,” Engel said.

The opening buzzer will sound at 4 p.m. Jan. 17 at Beyer Hall as Iowa State hosts Illinois.