The physical preparation is there, and the proof is a 10-1 regular season record, an undefeated 5-0 conference record and an ACC title. Yet now, after the regular season has ended, the No. 10 Virginia men's swimming and diving team is looking to prepare itself mentally and capitalize on its regular season success to perform on the national scale.
The Cavaliers have qualified ten swimmers to compete this weekend in the 2005 Men's NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The group consists of decorated, experienced Virginia swimmers --seniors Luke Anderson, Michael Raab, Bo Greenwood and junior Fran Crippen -- as well as the younger future of the program -- sophomores Stefan Hirniak, John Millen, Vanja Rogulj and freshmen Ryan Hurley, Pat Mellors and Bryan Stahl.
"I think that we have done all the things we need to do physically," Virginia coach Mark Bernardino said. "We are going to be in an arena that everyone is going to be as physically prepared as us."
In Bernardino's 27-year tenure as head swimming coach, he has stressed attention to detail and hard preparation. Since their conference championship win a month ago, Bernardino has trained the swimmers at a restful pace.
"After the conference met, we ratcheted back their training volumes," Bernardino said. "This last week has been a lot of rest and short speed work."
At this point of the year, mental preparation takes precedence over physical preparation, especially against the best competition in the nation.
"If the athletes do not go in confident in their ability and what they can accomplish, the least slip up mentally can take them out of a consolation or finalist spot," Bernardino said. "This is the best of the best, the elite of the elite, not just from around the country but from all around the world. To place in the top eighth or top 16th, it takes a special person. I think that we have done all the things we need to do physically. Ultimately, only the athlete controls that mental perspective of the event."
All-American and All-ACC swimmer Anderson agreed that on a stage of this high level, the mind is one of the many muscles in action.
"It is easy to get ready for this," Anderson said. "This is the fun part of the season. There is not much work to be done anymore to get ready. It is now mental, and that has been my strongest point in the pool. It is knowing that when you step on the blocks that you have done everything to prepare for that moment and having fun with it."
Virginia sends a talented group of swimmers who, like Anderson, are prepared to have fun and compete with their opponents.
Anderson will participate in the 50, 100 and 200-meter freestyle events. He is coming off this year's ACC titles in the 100 and 200 freestyle, a feat he also accomplished in 2002. Anderson has finished no higher than sixth place in any of the freestyle events.
Raab, a three-time 200-meter fly ACC champion, will compete in both the 100 and 200 fly. He has experienced preliminary NCAA success before but has yet to finish his strong starts.
"Michael Raab in the 200 fly has been exciting," Anderson said. "The past two years he has been seeded first after the morning but he has not been able to put together a fast swim at night."
Crippen, last year's ACC Swimmer of the Year, will swim the 500-meter freestyle, 1650 freestyle and 400-yard I.M. In the ACC Championships, Crippen finished fourth in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 15:13.46.
Greenwood, one of two team captains, will participate in the 200 I.M., 400-yard I.M. and 200-meter backstroke.
Millen will compete in the 200 freestyle, 500-meter freestyle and 1650-yard freestyle. He was the runner-up with a NCAA "B" time of 15:06.57 at this year's ACCs.
Hirniak will swim the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 200-meter fly. Rogulj will swim the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke. Hurley will compete in the 200-meter breaststroke. Mellors will swim the 200 I.M. and 400-yard I.M. Stahl will participate on several of the six Virginia relay teams.
Despite the large number of qualifying Virginia swimmers, Minneapolis will be flooded with both national and worldwide talent.
"The competition is deep," Anderson said. "This is probably the fastest meet in the world. It is a meet that really does rival the Olympics in terms of speed and competition."
Despite the competition, with the team's mental and physical preparation, Virginia fans hope another streak will continue -- six consecutive top-15 finishes at the NCAA Championships.
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