The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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big ten Championships: men's swimming list has the Wolverines even more focused, and it could define their legacies in Ann Arbor. "Going into Big Tens, we definitely had a goal of getting it done as a team," he said. "We're seen our families and relaxed a bit, now we're getting back to work. We're keeping our eyes on the prize." There's more work to be done, and this team can certainly get better leading up to the March 28-30 national meet. "We're going into NCAAs with the understanding that it's possible," Willets said. "We know it's exciting, it's a battle with other top schools. We're feeding off that excitement, and using it to motivate us, not put any pressure on ourselves." Willets speaks from a position of confidence and leadership. He and the rest of the team have been there before. Placing fifth at last year's NCAA Championships, Michigan returned this season with an unwavering determination. The freshman class is just as important as the senior class; egos and any concept of a selfish focus on one's own times are quickly forgotten in lieu of team goals. Balance is on display from a variety of positions and events. Freshman Dylan Bosch specializes in the 200-yard butterfly, where he broke Big Ten and meet records. Junior Connor Jaeger swims the distance events and set career-best times. Michigan swept all five freestyle relay events (50-, 100-, 200-, 500- and 1,650-yard races) at Big Tens. In the mile, the top four finishers were all Wolverines. Sheer depth is the team's ultimate strength, and one that will definitely pose severe problems for opponents. "This is a team that rose up as a team — not as individuals," head coach Mike Bottom said. "If swimming was an individual sport, you'd see individuals swimming fast. This is a team sport: everyone is swimming fast right now, and guys are swimming fast for Michigan." A veteran of the Olympics and collegiate coaching ranks, Bottom has seen and done it all. Challenges are fierce, and the competition comprises the best that college swimming and diving has to offer, some of whom have lots left in the tank from conference meets. But Michigan's team depth puts U-M squarely in the national championship conversation, and may allow them to add more to the trophy case at Canham. "Cal, Stanford, Arizona and Texas have all been in the top three nationally at some point this season," said Bottom, understanding how difficult this will be. "We finished fifth last year and that was our best performance in the past few years. "We go into the NCAAs knowing that we're facing top competition that hasn't even shown all their cards yet. But if we stay together as a team, we can finish at the top." — Geoff Chiles