The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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big ten Championships: women's swimming the team's success to more stringent expectations all around. "We're holding them to a higher standard than they've been in the past," he said. "I want them to understand they're student-athletes in every sense — community, classroom, and in the pool. If they can be successful in every area, than we can be successful in the pool. "You can see that in the wins over OSU, Wisconsin, and wins over a few schools at the Big Ten Championships. We've shown that we can compete at that level." Competition brings out the best in swimmers. Many swimmers on the team have made significant strides, pushing themselves and their abilities toward making the team a successful unit. Thirteen Michigan swimmers set career-best times at Big Tens for a grand total of 36 career swims. Bottom has learned that there's not much difference between coaching a men's team and a women's team. If you set team goals as the foundation of the program and have the fortitude to battle through some tough times, you will be well on your way toward similar success. "Principles are the same, no matter who you're coaching," he said. "We start out with relays. Two relays qualified, and we're taking nine women to NCAAs. "A top-25 finish at NCAAs would be a great finish for us at this point. "Five individuals are all swimming on relays at NCAAs. That's big for Michigan, and it will help set the culture for next year. It will let the team know that this is what we expect when you swim for Michigan — greatness." One of those heading to the NCAA Championships is junior Courtney Beidler. She swims multiple disciplines and set three career bests at the Big Ten meet — 200-yard individual medley (1:59.35), 400-yard individual medley (4:11.16) and 200-yard butterfly (1:57.49), finishing fourth overall in the latter event. The NCAA Championships are just around the corner (March 21-23), and though she's one of a select few representing Michigan, Beidler is proud that other members of the team will still be swimming and competing around the country thanks to its very vocal leader. "The team's attitude right now is really awesome, we're pumped and excited," she said. "Girls who aren't going to NCAAs are going to sectionals meet, and World Trials Cup. "The work isn't done yet, there's more to be done with this season. Working with Mike has been awesome; he's a great leader. He's created a really great team dynamic with us, to push us to be successful. He motivates us, he knows what to say and when to say it. He's been a really huge asset to the revitalization of this program." Culture and expectations are set. The progress is palpable. It appears to be only a matter of time before Bottom's methods and his swimmers' efforts start rewarding the program with what they've come to expect: Big Ten titles. — Geoff Chiles