The ISU swimming and diving team will be taking on in-state rival Iowa on Friday. Iowa has won the last four meets between the two teams, so the Cyclones know they will have to come prepared.

“Both teams seem to swim outstandingly against each other,” said coach Duane Sorenson. “It looks like it’s going to be another barn burner.”

Some wonder what this rivalry could really mean to swimming and diving and if it is any comparison to football and basketball.

“It’s probably more intense,” Sorenson said.

The coach recalled last year’s meet against the Hawkeyes being back-and-forth in every race.

Sorenson brought up the fact that a fifth-place finish gets a point for the team, and that can really make a difference. Both schools also recruit a lot of the same athletes.

“Three years ago the meet was decided by two points,” Sorenson said. “Our women know each other, the coaches know each other and there aren’t a lot of secrets.”

The Cyclones are looking to continue improving their speed for their trip to Iowa City as well as the conference schedule.

“We’re just trying to fine-tune everything,” Sorenson said. “We know this meet is going to very important not only for our team, but the whole state of Cyclone Nation.”

This meet is key in keeping the team competitive going into conference play when classes resume in January. 

“When we swim against Nebraska it’s probably just as intense,” Sorenson said. 

Sorenson said that despite fighting illness all fall, the team is pretty healthy going into Iowa City.

Iowa State’s 11 seniors are excited for their final meeting with Iowa. They currently hold a record of 2-1 against the Hawkeyes and don’t want to settle for a .500 finish.

“It’s going to take all 32 of our women to do the job,” Sorenson said. “It’s a matter of women being steady and solid all the way through the meet.”

The meet is worth two points in the Cy-Hawk Series. Iowa currently leads the event 7-6.

The meet begins at 6 p.m. in Iowa City at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.