The men’s and women’s swimming teams will open their seasons today.

By Jake Mosbach and Blake Dowson
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On Saturday, both the Iowa men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will begin their 2015-16 campaign as they head to Chicago to take on the Flames of Illinois-Chicago.

The dual meet will have two sessions, beginning at 4 p.m. today and 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Head coach Marc Long, now in his 12th year as the leader of the swimming and diving team, views the season-opening meet as a great early test.

“To have a meet this early is a great team-building experience,” Long said at Wednesday’s media day. “We’ve got a group of hungry competitors that are really fun to coach.”

Early season meets such as this one are a great litmus test for coaches to see where their squad is at both physically and mentally.

Last season saw countless school records fall, and Long said the energy level ahead of this season is at an all-time high among the Hawkeyes.

“Last year was just a different type of year. In a lot of ways, it was kind of like we ‘arrived,’ ” he said. “This year, we’ve got a lot of returners, a lot of great point scorers, and a different level of excitement.”

Junior Emma Sougstad, who qualified for the NCAA Championships in three events last year as a sophomore, returns to the Hawkeyes as a team leader.

She said her expectations for the season are limitless.

“I’m keeping an open mind on expectations [for the season],” she said. “The sky’s the limit. Let’s see where we can go.”

Along with Sougstad, highly touted incoming freshman Abbey Schneider has high hopes for the Hawkeyes. She is expected to replace 1,650-freestyle Big Ten champion Becky Stoughton.

“[Stoughton has] got a lot of school records … so I’ll feel a bit of pressure, but I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she said. “I just go out there and race and try my best every time.”

As for long-term season goals for the women’s team, Long made them pretty clear.

“We want to put kids in finals, win the Big Tens, and the same for the NCAAs,” he said.

The men’s team also returns plenty of firepower from last year’s roster. This weekend will be the first chance for last years NCAA qualifiers senior Roman Trussov, senior Addison Boschult, junior Jackson Halsmer, and sophomore Jerzy Twarowski to showcase the strides they have made.

“Things have been good in practice so far,” junior Halsmer said. “It’s just kind of getting your aerobic conditioning in, getting used to the grind again. [This weekend] will be a good meet to see where we’re at and see if we can build on it.”

Long said having experienced swimmerswith the younger team will be a big help this year, and the four NCAA qualifiers can act as an extension of him.

“We’re blessed to have the returning NCAA qualifiers and point scorers,” Long said. “That adds a level of maturity to this young team that the coaching staff can look to.”

As big a story line as any is the youth on the roster.

The Hawkeyes have 18 underclassmen on the roster, with many of them expected to produce. They get their first crack at it this weekend.

The sophomore class will be a huge factor. As they go, so may the Hawkeyes.

Long referred to an old saying to help describe the importance of his second-years.

“You know the best thing about freshmen … they turn into sophomores,” Long said. “They come back as different people … We feel like we’ll have some swimmers emerge in that group.”

Follow @realjakemosbach and @B_Dows4 for news, updates, and analysis on the Iowa men’s and women’s swimming teams.