DAY ONE RECAP

After the first day of competition at the Conference USA Swimming Championships, it is obvious to this writer that the meet will be all SMU.

Currently ranked number 12 in the country by CollegeSwimming.com, SMU will sweep to it's second Conference USA title in as many years when all is said and done.

That is not to give the other schools their due. Conference USA is not one of the premiere swimming conferences in the NCAA. They do not sport the swimming tradition that the Pac 10, Big 12, or Southeastern Conference have.

Compare them to Stanford, Auburn, or Texas and they will come up on the short end of the stick most of, if not all of, the time.

However, in my humble opinion, that is what makes their competing so much fun to watch and support.

I have met and spent time with all of the University of Houston swimmers in my role as the "Official Voice of Houston Cougars Swimming."

I can tell you this; these girls LOVE TO SWIM! One can see it in their eyes.

It is in the eyes of the women of the Univeristy of Houston.

It is in the eyes of the women from Marshall University.

It is in the eyes of the women from East Carolina University.

It is in the eyes of the women from Rice University.

It is in the eyes of the women from SMU.

Yes, SMU is the elite of the field. But their talent and forthcoming success doesn't take away from the other teams.

They all share one goal...to swim their best and see what they can accomplish when they do.

Indeed, that does sound cliche, but that is what makes sport great. Not the triumph, but the struggle. Not the finish, but the journey. Not the individual but the team.

That is why this meet will be one of the most exciting I have seen in a very long time.

To see what some young women can do when they compete for the love of the sport.

That is what makes it great.