While most of Ashland University's students wanted to enjoy spring break on a beach or by a pool, junior swimmer Hannah Mattar spent a little time of her own in a pool.
Coming off three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and being named the 2015 GLIAC women's Swimmer of the Year, Mattar got back in the pool and diligently began preparing for this week's 2015 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships (March 11-14 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind.).
Mattar will compete in the 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard individual medley, 400-yard IM and the 200-yard butterfly.
Messerly Natatorium, the home of the Eagles, may not be a warm beach in Florida, but Mattar hopes all her hard work will translate into success in Indianapolis.
"My goal is to be top eight in all my events," said Mattar. "I was close last year to doing it, and that's my goal for this year."
As a sophomore, Mattar reached the podium in three of her four individual events. She returns to this year's championships in the same four events, minus the Eagles 400 medley relay team that made it to nationals a year ago.
Ashland head coach Derick Roe also is looking forward to see what Mattar can accomplish at nationals.
"I just hope she goes in, has fun, races hard and can get some best times," Roe said. "That's always the goal."
Mattar's nationals schedule will be as follows:
Wednesday (March 11) – 200 IM trials (10:30 a.m.), 200 IM finals (6 p.m.)
Thursday (March 12) – 400 IM trials (10:30 a.m.), 400 IM finals (6 p.m.)
Friday (March 13) – 200 butterfly trials (10:30 a.m.), 200 butterfly finals (6 p.m.)
Saturday (March 14) – 200 breaststroke trials (10:30 a.m.), 200 breaststroke finals (6 p.m.)
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SWIM/LR