University of Minnesota Athletics
Big Ten Quotes From Event Champions, 2/9/07
2/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Jackie Vavrek, member of 200 Yard Medley Relay Champions, Wisconsin
On winning the Big Ten title:
“I think we just came out there and swam a pretty good relay. It is really unfortunate that the other relay teams got disqualified - that was like us last night and I feel for them. We made sure to be cautious and not let things like that happen.”
400 Yard IM champion Kaitlin O’Brien, Penn State
On being a two-time Big Ten champion:
“It’s unreal and unbelievable.”
On her strategy from prelims to finals:
“You just have to keep your head straight and not feel like because you have the edge that you can jog the finals. You cannot hold it back in the morning and you cannot hold it back at night, you just have to go.”
100 Yard Butterfly champion Kaitlyn Brady, Michigan
On Michigan swimmers taking three of the top four spots in the 100 fly:
“It was exciting. A lot of our girls who have qualified for NCAAs aren’t fully rested for this meet, so it was nice to come in and be able to go one, two and four in that event. It just shows how much depth we have in the butterfly. It was nice to be able to step up with these other two girls on my team in the finals.”
On how her teammates have pushed her throughout the season:
“We’ve got an amazing group of flyers. We have a great group of freshmen. It’s so nice to have them there training with you every single day and then to come in and get to compete with them - it just makes things better.”
On returning to the University of Minnesota for the NCAA Championships:
“It’s really nice to come back. I think the Big Ten teams definitely have an advantage because we’ve competed in a big meet here already. It’s nice to come back to somewhere where you’re familiar with.”
200 Yard Freestyle champion Lindsey Smith, Michigan
On winning the 200 free for the fourth time in a row:
“Its exciting and great motivation for years to come. I’m just glad I could do what I came to do.”
On her win helping Michigan win the Big Ten team championship:
“I hope it is great motivation for the rest of my teammates and for the rest of the day. Coming into tomorrow, I hope we can keep having great swims.”
100 Yard Breaststroke champion Lyndsey Smith, Penn State
On finishing in first in her first-ever Big Ten event finals:
“I’m a freshman, so it’s pretty awesome. It’s a new experience. Big Ten’s is something different with the team and having them totally behind you.”
On her goals coming into the event:
“I set out to do well. Coming in first was a very nice bonus. But it was my goal. You always want to finish in first.”
100 Yard Backstroke champion Leila Vaziri, Indiana
On setting the new Big Ten backstroke record:
“It feels incredible. It’s my last Big Tens and I get to leave my career with some kind of mark and I am really happy with it.”
On how this Big Ten’s ranks in her career:
“This is a pretty big highlight. You go to NCAA’s and you go to other big national competitions, but there is something special about conference meets. There is something special with all the parents being here and your whole team. This is definitely a highlight of my career and doing it for Indiana.”
On Indiana’s chances of taking first as a team:
“We are all on the edge of our seats because it is always a pretty close meet, which makes it exciting. We are just trying to do the best we can and not get ahead of ourselves and take it one race at a time.”
3 Meter Diving champion Christina Loukas, Indiana
On winning her second diving event of the competition:
“I’m really excited because I haven’t won Big Ten’s yet in the 3 meters. I’ve just been working hard for this and I’m happy that my work finally paid off.”
On improving on her 13th place Big Ten finish in 2006:
“This year I built up a lot of confidence in past competitions. I just try to stay calm and confident and focused on my diving.”
On going for the diving sweep tomorrow in the platform competition:
It’s always a goal to win. I just hope to be my best out there tomorrow.”
800 Yard Freestyle Relay champions Yuen Kobayashi, Christine Jennings, Jenny Shaughnessy, Meredith McCarthy; Minnesota
On winning the event:
“It feels really good. We worked really hard and we came in here to do the best we can. We did what we came here to do.
“It’s not just the team members who are swimming the relay, it’s the whole support system of our teammates and coaches. I feel like we have the best support system here.”
On winning the Big Ten title:
“I think we just came out there and swam a pretty good relay. It is really unfortunate that the other relay teams got disqualified - that was like us last night and I feel for them. We made sure to be cautious and not let things like that happen.”
400 Yard IM champion Kaitlin O’Brien, Penn State
On being a two-time Big Ten champion:
“It’s unreal and unbelievable.”
On her strategy from prelims to finals:
“You just have to keep your head straight and not feel like because you have the edge that you can jog the finals. You cannot hold it back in the morning and you cannot hold it back at night, you just have to go.”
100 Yard Butterfly champion Kaitlyn Brady, Michigan
On Michigan swimmers taking three of the top four spots in the 100 fly:
“It was exciting. A lot of our girls who have qualified for NCAAs aren’t fully rested for this meet, so it was nice to come in and be able to go one, two and four in that event. It just shows how much depth we have in the butterfly. It was nice to be able to step up with these other two girls on my team in the finals.”
On how her teammates have pushed her throughout the season:
“We’ve got an amazing group of flyers. We have a great group of freshmen. It’s so nice to have them there training with you every single day and then to come in and get to compete with them - it just makes things better.”
On returning to the University of Minnesota for the NCAA Championships:
“It’s really nice to come back. I think the Big Ten teams definitely have an advantage because we’ve competed in a big meet here already. It’s nice to come back to somewhere where you’re familiar with.”
200 Yard Freestyle champion Lindsey Smith, Michigan
On winning the 200 free for the fourth time in a row:
“Its exciting and great motivation for years to come. I’m just glad I could do what I came to do.”
On her win helping Michigan win the Big Ten team championship:
“I hope it is great motivation for the rest of my teammates and for the rest of the day. Coming into tomorrow, I hope we can keep having great swims.”
100 Yard Breaststroke champion Lyndsey Smith, Penn State
On finishing in first in her first-ever Big Ten event finals:
“I’m a freshman, so it’s pretty awesome. It’s a new experience. Big Ten’s is something different with the team and having them totally behind you.”
On her goals coming into the event:
“I set out to do well. Coming in first was a very nice bonus. But it was my goal. You always want to finish in first.”
100 Yard Backstroke champion Leila Vaziri, Indiana
On setting the new Big Ten backstroke record:
“It feels incredible. It’s my last Big Tens and I get to leave my career with some kind of mark and I am really happy with it.”
On how this Big Ten’s ranks in her career:
“This is a pretty big highlight. You go to NCAA’s and you go to other big national competitions, but there is something special about conference meets. There is something special with all the parents being here and your whole team. This is definitely a highlight of my career and doing it for Indiana.”
On Indiana’s chances of taking first as a team:
“We are all on the edge of our seats because it is always a pretty close meet, which makes it exciting. We are just trying to do the best we can and not get ahead of ourselves and take it one race at a time.”
3 Meter Diving champion Christina Loukas, Indiana
On winning her second diving event of the competition:
“I’m really excited because I haven’t won Big Ten’s yet in the 3 meters. I’ve just been working hard for this and I’m happy that my work finally paid off.”
On improving on her 13th place Big Ten finish in 2006:
“This year I built up a lot of confidence in past competitions. I just try to stay calm and confident and focused on my diving.”
On going for the diving sweep tomorrow in the platform competition:
It’s always a goal to win. I just hope to be my best out there tomorrow.”
800 Yard Freestyle Relay champions Yuen Kobayashi, Christine Jennings, Jenny Shaughnessy, Meredith McCarthy; Minnesota
On winning the event:
“It feels really good. We worked really hard and we came in here to do the best we can. We did what we came here to do.
“It’s not just the team members who are swimming the relay, it’s the whole support system of our teammates and coaches. I feel like we have the best support system here.”
Players Mentioned
Dist Free
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/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree
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