The ISU men’s swimming team will be sending six swimmers to compete in the NCAA Championship Meet beginning Thursday in College Station, Texas.

The six, Iowa State’s most qualifiers since 1998, will compete in 10 of the meet’s 21 events. The meet runs through Saturday.

ISU head coach Trip Hedrick is pleased with the number of competitors in the field.

“The ultimate goal of your season is to finish at the highest level,” said Hedrick. “To have six guys going is quite nice.”

The team of six swimmers consists of seniors Jeff Gahan, Henrik Ingesson and Peder Skoog, junior Dylan de Bruin, sophomore Mike Christianson and freshman Jono Newton.

Three of the swimmers, Gahan, Ingesson and de Bruin, have previously participated in NCAAs.

Gahan took part in three events in the 1998 NCAA Championship Meet as a freshman. He swam in the 200-yard medley relay, the 400-yard freestyle relay and 50-yard freestyle. Gahan will swim those three events again at this year’s meet.

Ingesson competed in the 1998 championship meet 200-yard medley relay and 100-yard butterfly as a freshman. Ingesson will swim in those events at this year’s meet as well.

As for de Bruin, this will be his third NCAA Championship Meet in row. The junior took part in the 50 and 100 freestyle in the last two championship meets.

De Bruin will compete in 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays, 50 and 100-yard freestyle events, the 100-yard butterfly, and will swim the freestyle portion of both the 200 and 400-yard medley relays.

Skoog will make his first appearance in the championship meet, swimming in seven events. Skoog will battle in the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays, 100 and 200-yard backstroke, the 50-yard freestyle, and will swim the backstroke portion of the 200 and 400-yard medley relays.

Skoog says qualifying for the championship meet is a great feeling.

“It’s really gratifying,” Skoog said. “That’s what you work for all season, is to get NCAA’s.”

It’s the first championship meet for Christianson and Newton also. Both will swim in three events. Christianson will swim in the 100-yard breaststroke and will also swim breaststroke in both the 200 and 400-yard medley relays.

Newton will compete in the 50-yard freestyle and will take part in the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays.

Hedrick says the Cyclones have been preparing for this meet all year.

“It’s a positive reflection of the hard work [the swimmers] put in,” Hedrick said. “The fact that our relays got invited reflects [the swimmers] commitment to each other.”

The goal for Iowa State is clear for the meet.

“Our goal is to get there and swim faster than we did at the Big 12 Championships,” Hedrick said.

“Almost every year if you hold your conference time you improve your time bit, but if you improve upon your conference time, you improve your time substantially.”

The championship meet will showcase the best of what intercollegiate swimming will have to offer, and the Cyclones expect good things to happen.

“I think we’re going in seeded pretty well,” said Skoog. “I expect a lot from us.”