With the Big 12 Championships less than three weeks away, the ISU swimming and diving team is feeling the excitement that spreads throughout the squad this time of year.

The countdown is on for their ultimate test — the meet that will determine whether their season will end after the Gopher Invite on March 2, or whether they will represent their university and conference in the NCAA Championships later in the month.

“In the sport of swimming, almost all the preparation you do is for the Big 12 meet, which is February, or the NCAA Championship, which is in March,” ISU head coach Duane Sorenson said. “Everything we’re doing is gearing toward the Big 12 Championship.”

Two meets will prepare the Cyclones for their test. The first exam before the final takes place this weekend when Nebraska invades the Beyer Hall pool for a 1 p.m. meet.

For seniors Kristen Vanek, Carmella Nogar and Rena Kelinson, it will be an emotional one. They will immerse themselves in the ISU pool for collegiate competition one last time.

Vanek said effort among the squad remained high — even during last weekend’s big loss at Missouri — because the Big 12 Championships are approaching and it’s a chance to prove yourself as a competitive swimmer on the national scene.

“Everybody’s starting to get excited,” Vanek said.

In preparation for the stretch run, Vanek said the team is backing off on workouts in order to be in top form when Feb. 20 rolls around. They call it tapering.

“We stop lifting weights and gradually take away our yardage from our practices,” Vanek said.

The Cyclones face the Cornhuskers one week after the loss in Columbia, Mo. Nogar, who swam a season-best time in the 200-meter medley along with Vanek’s fastest 1,000-meter freestyle of the season, said her team never gave up against the Tigers.

“Our team had a lot of spirit the whole time,” Nogar said.

And even though No. 21 Missouri pounded her team last Saturday, Nogar said Sorenson was still supportive afterwards.

“He was really pleased with our effort,” Nogar said. “As long as everybody puts in a hard effort, if they’re just faster than us on a certain day, then that’s kind of the way it is. If our effort is there, then he’s happy with us.”

Sorenson said he hopes to see more improvement, but won’t be extremely concerned with the final outcome. He’s got his eyes on the prize that will be at stake in three weeks.

“We’re just hoping to go out there and swim season-best times,” Sorenson said. “Nebraska is a very up and coming team after being down last year. They’ve got a handful of very strong individuals, so we should have very challenging races.”