A certain amount of pride comes along with the third place finish the Cyclones achieved at the Big 12 championship in the 2013-14 season. 

ISU swimming and diving (7-4, 2-1 Big 12) finished this season one win shy of tying a school record for regular season wins. The Cyclones earned a thrilling victory vs. Texas Christian on the road, and a come-from-behind victory led by Kasey Roberts against West Virginia on senior day.

Last year’s ISU team claimed third place at the Big 12 Championships, notching its highest ever conference finish during the Big 12 era. This year’s team’s regular-season success, combined with an influx of senior leadership, makes an improvement on third place a realistic goal.

Coach Duane Sorenson’s philosophy of tapered training has set in for his swimmers as they have turned full attention toward the peak meet of the season.

The physical elements of technique and skill are important in preparation for the meet, but the mental aspect of preparation is not being overlooked either.

“Mentally, we start to rehearse what our races are going to be,” Sorenson said. “Throughout the year, we filmed them and have given feedback on their races during the dual meets. Now we want to make those corrections.”

A repeat performance from last year would sit well with Sorenson.

“If we can repeat third place, we’ll be happy and to fight for second would be even greater,” Sorenson said. 

A couple of Sorenson’s tapered specialists set their sights higher.

“Second place and beating KU along with the other teams [is our goal],” said Alex Flatness. “I think, too, a lot of personal records.”

Flatness also mentioned that 80 percent of the team is striving to get a personal record at this year’s Big 12 Championship.

Tapering not only includes different training but also some different gear and preparations for the meet.

Junior Kaylee Kucera touched on some of the differences in actually performing under the qualifications of tapering and her excitement for this upcoming meet.

“When you taper, usually you wear a fast skin at the big meet and you get to shave,” Kucera said. “All of that its also a big mental thing. It’s the meet we’ve been thinking about since last year when it finished.”

The Cyclones aren’t far behind the Jayhawks, but Iowa State has lost to the Kansas twice this season. Coach Sorenson broke down the possible outcomes of the event, taking into consideration Iowa State’s tight finishes against TCU and West Virginia. 

“We could swim out of our minds and get fifth place, or we could have an average meet and get second place,” Sorenson said. “It’s going to go down to the last session of the meet.”

Sorenson spoke about a dogfight that will ensue among Kansas, Iowa State, West Virginia and TCU. Last year, Iowa State battled with Kansas for the first two days and then had to battle with TCU for the final two days.

Anything could happen with these four competitive Big 12 teams when the conference championship gets underway in Austin, Texas on Feb. 25 to 28.

“Ideally, you want to have the perfect race,” Sorenson said. “You have the perfect start, the perfect stroke, the perfect turn and you’re pacing each lane at your ultimate speed.”

For more information about the Big 12 Championship, click here