The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

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The SMU Classic brings powerhouses to the Hilltop

Few programs kick off their season with tougher competition than the Mustangs do at their annual SMU Classic.

Every year, the classic brings national powers to the waters of Perkins Natatorium. This year the group includes University of Southern California, Indiana, University of North Carolina, Louisville and the University of Miami.

In the 2013 NCAA Championships, USC earned a pair of individual titles and finished seventh overall.

Indiana and UNC finished in the top 15, while Miami finished 20th and Louisville 22nd.

SMU finished just outside of the group with a respectable 24th place finish.

With this many successful programs in one place, there will be many national champion swimmers and Olympians competing over the weekend.

SMU will be led by seniors Isabella Arcila and Nina Rangelova and juniors Monika Babok and Nathalie Lindborg, who earned All-American honors for their performances in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle events at the 2013 NCAA Championships.

The relay team posted a 10th place finish in the 400-yard freestyle with a time of 3:16:37 and an 11th place finish in the 200-yard race with a time of 1:30:07.

Impressively, Rangelova is a six-time All-American, while Arcila and Babok are four time All-Americans.

Lindborg received her first two accolades during the 2012-13 season to round off the decorated group.

With their dominating presence on the national stage, it should come as no surprise that the Mustangs were equally successful in C-USA.

Arcila was named C-USA Swimmer of the Year, while Linborg was named Newcomer of the Year last season.

Arcila owned the 2013 conference meet — taking home six first-place finishes while establishing a new meet standard in the 50-yard freestyle. Lindborg won five titles at the C-USA Championships, including a win in the 100-yard freestyle.

Not only do the Mustangs have the benefit of so many returning work horses, but they can also look forward to seeing a few newcomers in action. Newcomers to the SMU group are divers Lauren Lamb and Margaret Lindsay and freestyle swimmer Ursa Bezan. Samantha Butz will compete in the fly and back while Brooke Jensen looks to establish herself in distance races.

On Oct. 4, SMU began its 2013-14 season with a third place finish (278 points) at the UNT Relays in Southlake, Texas.

The Mustangs finished ahead of AAC opponent Houston who finished fourth (244 points).

The SMU Classic will be students’ last chance to see the athletes compete at SMU until Jan. 31. There will be events Friday and Saturday in Perkins Natatorium beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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