MORGANTOWN — WVU junior swimmer Jake Armstrong is headed into the biggest competition of his life, and he has no idea what to expect.
“Considering this is my first time, and I’ve never done a full month of taper after the Big 12 meet, I have no clue what I’m capable of doing,” he said.
Armstrong is one of five Mountaineers headed to the NCAA Division 1 Swimming Championships over the next two weeks. He will compete in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke, and will be joined by junior teammate Tristen Di Sibio in both events.
Freshman David Dixon will round out the men’s side, competing in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 butterfly.
On the women’s side, the Mountaineers will be represented by sophomore Morgan Bullock in the 200 IM, 100 butterfly, and 200 butterfly, as well as junior Emma Harris in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke.
It will be the first appearance at the NCAA Championships by the WVU women in five years. For Bullock, it’s a milestone that she does not take lightly.
“It definitely is a huge opportunity to get our name out there,” she said. “That’s a huge part of it all, we haven’t sent any girls in five years, so it’s a huge blessing to be able to come in here.”
WVU head coach Victor Riggs is excited for the competition, as it will be the first opportunity for the group of athletes to shine on the national stage.
“For them, it’s their first opportunity, and we’re really excited for them,” he said. “In our sport it’s not always a two or three month process, for several of these kids they’ve been working several years. As a staff we’re really excited and it’s been a program goal these past couple of years”
“We’re really young; all these kids are underclassman and we’re hoping this gives them the opportunity to repeat and go back.”
Leading a group of first-timers into such a high caliber of competition is no lark, but Riggs has high expectations for his athletes heading in.
“The opportunity to have this experience is good for them,” he said. “We have a couple kids that have the opportunity for some second swims, but I think the overall focus right now is to prepare them to go and repeat their times at the Big 12 Championships, if not swim faster.”
For Bullock, it’s an opportunity to show her development from the numerous hours she’s poured into training over the years.
“I’ve been swimming competitively since I was six, but this year is the first year I’ve done year round training,” she said. “I’ve spent a lot of focus in the weight room grinding day in and day out, and it really has showed.”
For his part, Armstrong is still in awe of the opportunity in front of him, calling the experience “unreal.”
“I’m excited and nervous. It’s a little bit of both. When you step up on the blocks and see every single guy with the Olympic rings tattooed on their side, it’s a little intimidating,” he said. “You need to remember the reason you’re here is that you’re just as good as these people, that you deserve to be there just as much as the rest of them.”
“While I think it’s nerve-wracking, with the level of competition you’re competing against, you need to be humble and realize you’re there for the same reason.”
With that in mind, and little concept of what the experience will be like, Armstrong said that he has one goal headed in.
“I just want to go in, swim as fast as I can represent my team, family, and God, and make people proud.”
The women’s meet will run from March 14th to March 17th, and will take place at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The men will take the pool next week, with their meet running March 21-24. The men will we compete at the University Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.
