The Brown & White

The men's team is looking to capture their 18th consecutive victory against Lafayette College this Friday.

In its most anticipated meet of the season, the Lehigh University swimming and diving team will travel to Lafayette to take on the rival Leopards.

Head Coach Rob Herb, who is in his fifth season, said he believes the Lehigh men's team should win.

"The men have won many times so it becomes pretty much a tradition," Herb said. "The men's team has the upper hand in my mind but this meet will be the test, anything can happen."

Herb said the team has focused during the fall semester to prepare for the upcoming meet.

"The whole fall semester has revolved around pretty intense training," he said. "We've had some challenges along the way but the focus has always been the Lehigh-Lafayette meet."

Junior Laura Eull, who swims back-stroke, said the Lafayette will be an opportunity to evaluate the team's progress.

"The meet is important because first, it continues the long-standing rivalry, which is truly an honor to compete in," Eull said. "Second, the meet allows us to see where we are training; we will be able to see how prepared we are to race and compete."

Herb said the team has made huge strides from last year.

"The ladies were 0-11 last year and are already 3-3 which is a big improvement," Herb said. "The men are 4-2 and have really been showing strength."

Herb said the team has strong leaders for both the women and the men.

Junior captains Eull and Julie Sicherman, who swims butterfly, are expected to lead the team.

Sicherman's personal best is in the 50-meter freestyle at 25:23. Meanwhile, Eull's best performance has been in the 50-meter backstroke at 26.01.

For the men, senior Dan Johnson, who swims freestyle, is expected to have a strong showing and has been leading the way.

In the 2008 Patriot League Championships, Johnson had a strong performance, finishing in 1st place in the 200-meter freestyle, 2nd in the 50-meter freestyle, 2nd in the 100-meter freestyle, 3rd in the 200-meter medley relay and 4th in the 800-meter freestyle relay.

Herb said everyone will need to step up and put in a strong effort in order to see results.

"The whole meet will come down to everyone," Herb said. "It's going to take everyone to make the meet go our way."

Eull said the team has a lot of energy approaching the Lehigh-Lafayette meet.

"The girl's team has had a countdown for Lafayette in the locker room since the beginning of school and we are ready to race," Eull said. "The team has really put in the effort during each and every practice and I am confident that the hard work will show on Friday."

Eull is not the only one confident in the swimming and diving team; Herb said that with all the hard work, he knows the team will be able to perform well.

"I just think that with all the hard work that has been put in, the expectation would be to see all of it come together," Herb said. "I know the team will be successful, but to just see it, so everyone has that good feeling."

Herb said he believes the most difficult part about the upcoming meet is waiting for it to get underway.

"There is a yearning to compete," Herb said. "The most important part during the meet will be to stay focused and we have been working on that."

The Lehigh-Lafayette meet begins Friday, in Easton, Pa. at 6 p.m.