For the past five years the Big XII could be considered the Big II.  The departure of men's teams at Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa State (within just a month of one another) left the conference just a shell of its previously-separate existence as the Big 8 and Southwest conferences.  But hope springs eternal in the Big XII with each returning swimmers with national-level experience, and a Missouri squad has a new pool and presumably new set of expectations.  Expectations are nothing new to the Texan tandem - both UT and A&M are part of huge athletic departments with weighty expectations, expectations that have led to coaching changes in both schools.  They're programs that are designed to compete - and win at the conference level, at the national level and perhaps most-passionately, against one another. 

The year ahead offers many interesting storylines for the Big XII - can the Texas men recapture the NCAA title?  What impact will Kim Brackin have after a couple years with the title 'mom' rather than coach and are the Longhorns vulnerable to an upstart A&M squad?  Can Missouri produce a national-level team to match its national-level facility?  Can Kansas put together the pieces of a conference-winning medley relay?  And will Nebraska sustain its growth with home-grown talent while Iowa State brings in a new assistant with international connections?  Here's your pre-season look at the Big XII conference.

University of Texas
Head Coaches: Eddie Reese (Men, 28th Season) Kim Brackin (Women, 1st Season)
Big XII Finish: 1st of 3 (Men), 1st of 6 (Women)
NCAA Finish: 4th (Men); 8th (Women)

Historically, Texas swimming has had as much success as any other program around. However, in the last few years, the Longhorns haven’t quite had the achievement they've become accustomed to.  In fact, no national titles have been won in Austin since 2002 - equaling the longest stretch since 1991.  That year also happens to be the last time the Longhorn women were crowned team champions. 

That span led to a shake-up in Austin with co-head coaches Jill Sterkel and Mike Walker moving on and Kim Brackin moving in.  Brackin takes the reins and hopes to return the Lady Longhorns to the success they once had.  After a phenomenal coaching career at Auburn, Brackin brings her knowledge and experience to Austin with the goal of “repeat(ing) as Big XII Conference Champions and place(ing) in the top 6 at NCAA's.”

The Lady Longhorns will need an entire team effort in order to accomplish their goals.  Brackin states, “this will be a true team effort with, hopefully, the senior class leading the way.  I have inherited a tremendously talented senior class and I would love for them to have the best collegiate season of their career.  I am counting on the underclassmen to embrace the new program and take pride in what will be their new team for the next few years.  Our divers have always contributed at both the conference and NCAA level and I will depend on Coach Scoggin to keep those points coming for us!”  Finally, Brackin says, “Jim and I look forward to building upon the great success Texas Swimming has had historically. I feel confident that our diving coach, Matt Scoggin, will continue to produce talented divers.  At Texas we represent a state where pride runs deep and hard work is expected; it is this attitude, along with hard work, great racing skills and unparalleled resources that will help put Texas back in contention for NCAA titles.”

The Longhorn Men are also looking to improve on last year and return to the form that led them to their three consecutive national championships titles.  Recently- named Olympic Coach, Eddie Reese and crew have a solid core of talent to lead them back to that form. Garrett Weber-Gale is the lynchpin of the Texas relays and returns to defend his NCAA title in the 100 freestyle.  Matt McGinnis will play a role on the freestyle relays while looking to overcome a sub-par performance at last year's nationals.   Michael Klueh will look to improve on a pair of top-five finishes.  Matt Lowe and Tyler O'Halloran, though no Brendan Hansen, offer Texas a 1-2 breastroke punch that would be the envy of any team.  These veterans, that need to step up lead the team.  Reese says that, “they are very important in the chemistry of the team,” and believes that they are key to the Longhorns success.

Texas A&M University
Head Coaches: Jay Holmes (Men, 3rd Season) Steve Bultman (Women, 8th Season)
Big XII Finish: 2nd of 3 (Men), 2nd of 6 (Women)
NCAA Finish: 17th (Men); 11th (Women)

For the past decade or so Texas A&M have proven one of the most consistent performers on the national landscape.    The Aggie men danced around the top ten in the late 90's and early 00's and are beginning to rebound under 3rd-year Head Coach Jay Holmes.  The women, meanwhile, have taken a steady track up since Steve Bultman's arrival in 1999.  Both programs have done so, however, in the shadows of the that other Big XII school from Texas.  This year's edition of the Aggies will offer a slightly different look with the men needing to overcome the graduation of several relay spots and the women poised to break through to the next level.

That next level for the women could be their first-ever top-ten national finish and Big XII title. Last year's co-Big XII swimmer-of-the-year, Codie Hansen returns leads a talented sophomore class.  Hansen was 5th in the 200 free and is perhaps the most-versatile freestyler in the country.  Triin Aljand also cracked the top-eight last year and, with Hansen get the A&M relays half-way to a great finish.  Julia Wilkinson is coming off of a much improved summer including winning Canadian Nationals and competing at Pan Pacs.  Kristen Heiss is a hard worker that keeps getting better as does racer Christine Marshall.  Alia Atkinson and Emily Neal are the top Aggie newcomers and capable of easing the loss of Erin Briskie, Britney Pesek, and Ewelina Zwiezykowsk.  If the A&M just continue on the path they've followed the past five years, that new level is easily achievable.

As young as the A&M women's team is, think of this year's campaign for the A&M men as a season-long audition for for relay spots.  The Aggies graduated a lot experience.  How much?  Nearly 70% of the spots.  Then again, A&M - first under Mel Nash and Jay Holmes, and now under Holmes and Doug Boyd - have been taking people nobody's ever heard of and fashioning them into contenders.  What is know is that Homes & Co. will depend on Ozzie Gardner and Francisco Picasso for leadership and Eric Sehn's consistency on the boards.  A&M will also need for the incoming freshman - Thomas Bishop, Ryan Latone, and Israel Duran - to contribute immediately.  In the words of Holmes, "A lot of new guys will have the opportunity to grow up real fast."  If they do they'll take a large step toward filling the shoes of five graduated NCAA Qualifiers.

University of Missouri
Head Coaches: Brian Hoffer (15th Season)
Big XII Finish: 3rd of 3 (Men), 3rd of 6 (Women)
NCAA Finish: -  (Men); - (Women)

After years of battling Iowa State, Kansas and Nebraska for the unofficial Big XII-North title, Missouri won't be satisfied being the best of the rest.  Last year both teams entered the CSCAA's top twenty-five dual-meet poll.  More importantly the Show-Me-Staters showed off their stunning new Missouri Aquatic Center to a bevy of recruits, fifteen of whom join the Tigers for this season.  Though the Tigers won't be cracking the top-two in the Big XII anytime soon, Hoffer feels they are capable of making a splash on the national scene.

A key to that success will be the crown jewel of that class, Colleen Gordon.  Gordon is a legit player at the NCAA level, bringing in times that would score right away.  In addition to Gordon, however, Missouri is hoping that their great depth can push a few more to the national meet.  Lori Halvorson is a versatile athlete that can swim everything from the 200 back, to 200 IM an 200 free. Shannon Hogan will contribute in the sprints while Jill Granger will round out the depth in distance.  On the men's side, Bennet Clark will be looked upon to lead the team and contribute in the sprint events.  Alex Zasadny, Lex Howard, and Justin Sellers make the fly events especially strong for Mizzou while Travis Floyd will lead off the medley relays.  Newcomers for the men include Austrian flyer Martin Ceransky and the versatile Dylan Lynn.  Both are capable of being impact players from day one.

“Last years team made some nice progress as we opened our new facility," said Hoffer. That progress carried over into this summer with a squad that was larger and far more spirited than those found in past years.  That spirit, with arguably the nation's most beautiful aquatic center, should make some believers out of the Tigers.

University of Kansas
Head Coach: Clark Campbell (5th year)
Big XII Finish: 4th of 6 (Women)
NCAA Finish: -

Last season Kansas displayed moments of brilliance.  They were lights-out at November's Minnesota Invite, came back to have an outstanding conference meet, but didn't get what they were looking for at NCAA's.  The Jayhawks head into the 2006-07 season with an eye towards peaking at the Big XII meet, qualify as many as possible to NCAA's and carry that form through March.

For the Jayhawk women, the team’s success will depend on several key players.  Lauren Bonfe's kick is lethal off the wall and could power the backstroker to a sub-55 lead-off split.  If so, that would set up KU breaststroke record-holder Danielle Herrmann well..  Herrman enjoyed a great summer, is looking to improve, and can hand off to Ashley Leidigh.  Last year Leidigh posted the 6th fastest time in the nation.  This year, with a little more experience behind her, the Sophomore should be poised to make a great run at NCAA's.  Terri Schramka continues to edge closer to one of the 281 coveted big-meet invitations.  If she does, watch for KU's relays to knock another team out of the meet.  Jenny Short looks to regain the form that carried her to the national meet in 2005.  Her return would be a valuable presence to an otherwise young squad. 

While Clark Campbell's cupboard is full of talent, Kansas will need their incoming freshmen to provide the depth to keep pace with the rest of the Big XII.  Maria Mayrovich, Ashley Robinson, and Whitney Taylor will all play a role this season and provide the foundation for continued improvement.. 

University of Nebraska
Head Coach:  Pablo Morales (6th year)
Big XII Finish:  5th of 6  (Women)
NCAA Finish:  36th (Women)

Five years ago Pablo Morales began rebuilding a once proud program that had lost its coaching staff under a cloud of suspicion and dropped its men's program.  Whereas previous Nebraska rosters read like a United Nations roll call, Morales eschewed the quick fix of foreign talent and set out to rebuild a program in his own image.  Those efforts reached a measurable milepost last season when the Huskers returned to the national meet with their first All-American in five years. Remarkably, the Huskers' All-American was just that - American. 

This season, Nebraska looks to continue that trend.  Lauren Bailey returns for her senior year and hopes to bring teammates with her to the national meet while also improving on last season's 9th place finish in the 1650.  Fellow senior distance swimmer Kate Wheeler also returns with a pocketful of provisional cuts to her name.   Bailey Ingles, Adrienne Goodman and Jenny Tolar have scoring experience at the conference level while a pair of NISCA All-Americans - Kaitlyn Arntz and Colleen Criss - can, along with fellow freshman Mariah Hutchinson, make an immediate impact.

Iowa State University
Head Coach:  Duane Sorenson (10th year)
Big 12 Finish:  6th of 6  (Women)
NCAA Finish: -

Heading into the 2006-07 campaign, Iowa State doesn’t have quite the depth that the other teams in the conference do, but they still have experience and talent. That alone could help Iowa State create their own little Cyclone at the Big XII meet.  Despite a 6th place finish at last year's meet, the Cyclones increased their point total, posted a bevy of school marks, and were less than 100 points away from third place.

The Cyclones are very capable of continuing that trend and nine seniors will head into this season looking to go out with a bang.  That group is highlighted by Lauren Breunig.  Breunig is an NCAA qualifier in the 100 and 200 freestyle and 200 IM.  She looks to pick up an All-American certificate this year.  Iowa State, with thirteen returning letterwinners isn't a one-woman show, however.   Chelsey Walden will contribute in the distance events while Lindsay Wegner and Marni Benson will make an impact in the back and breaststroke respectively. 

The Cyclones suffered some losses with Kim Rogers, Maggie Peterson, and Tami Ritchie due to graduation and with a huge senior class they'll be spending a lot of time recruiting this year.  It will be interesting to see what impact first-year assistant coach Yun Qu might have.  The World Championship silver-medalist could is a native of Hangzhou, China and could open doors for the Cyclones.