Nov. 28, 2012

Ohio State Invitational Central

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State women's swimming and diving team will welcome an impressive nine-team field of opponents at the seventh-annual Ohio State Invitational held at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Nov. 30 - Dec. 2. Following a NCAA championship-style format, the invitational will provide competing teams an early taste of postseason competition.

Competition will begin Friday, Nov. 30 with preliminary races held at 11 a.m., while the finals will follow beginning at 6 p.m. Live stats, results and invitational information for the meet are available on the Invitational Central page on OhioStateBuckeyes.com.

INVITATIONAL BASICS
Name: 2012 Ohio State Invitational
Facility: McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
Field (9 teams): (CSCAA Rankings, Nov. 13)
Florida (11)
Indiana (14)
North Carolina (15)
Notre Dame (21)
Ohio State (16)
*Purdue (20)
Stanford (6)
Texas (5)
Wisconsin (25)
* Indicates participation in only diving events

Start Times:
Friday, Nov. 30­

• Prelims: 11 a.m.
• Finals: 6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 1

• Prelims: 10 a.m.
• Finals: 5 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 2

• Prelims: 9 a.m.
• Finals: 3 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
The Ohio State Invitational will observe the NCAA 3-day Championship Meet Format from the 2012-13 NCAA Swimming and Diving Rule Book. There will be no preliminary heats of the relays. Relays will compete during finals only.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Ohio State welcomes a full slate of ranked competition, including nine of the ten schools represented ranked in the Top 25. Fifth-ranked Texas leads the pack with a 3-1 overall record. The Longhorns resume includes strong showings vs. No. 3 California and wins over No. 14 Indiana, No. 22 Michigan and No. 6 Stanford. 

Four Big Ten teams - No. 14 Indiana, No. 16 Ohio State, No. 20 Purdue and No. 25 Wisconsin - will make also compete at the invitational. The Hoosiers have a current record of 2-2 with tins over Kentucky and Michigan, while the Boilermakers are 3-0 showcasing key victories over Notre Dame and Northwestern. Wisconsin sneaks into the rankings after gathering early experience with an intense early schedule; the Badgers are currently 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten.

Purdue University will only compete in the diving portion of the invitational. 

BUCKEYES IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
As one of six schools representing the Big Ten Conference in the current rankings (Nov. 13), the Buckeye women climbed to No. 16 after initiating the season unranked. With a 4-1 overall record, Ohio State claimed a spot in the Top 25 following a strong weekend of swimming away from home.

In its first road test of the season, the group posted 11 individual season best times despite falling to the seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, Tenn. (Nov. 9). The Scarlet and Gray then rebounded the very next day, winning 13 of 16 events in a victory over Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Ohio State has been idle since its competitive weekend on the road. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes have been focusing their efforts on preparation for the Ohio State Invitational.

ADMISSION
Admission to the 2012 Ohio State Invitational is free. Meet programs and heat sheets will be made available. Meet programs are free of charge and heat sheets will be sold throughout the competition for a cost of $5 per session.

UP NEXT
Following the Ohio State Invitational, the Buckeyes will enjoy a training-filled winter break before returning to competition at home vs. Wright State on Jan. 11.