Junior Kat Flannery was not too thrilled about giving up a portion of her Thanksgiving break.

But Flannery knows her sacrifice can be a large factor in the success of the SIUC women’s swimming and diving team in this weekend’s Missouri Valley Conference Championships, which begins at noon today at the Recreation Center.

It was tough being the only ones on campus, but I think it will pay off in the end, definitely, Flannery said.

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SIUC coach Mark Kluemper had his team put in a few extra hours of practice over the holiday break. After winning the MVC meet in 1994 and 95, the Salukis will try to rebound from last year’s second-place finish in the meet. Illinois State University is in first place in the conference standings and is the favorite to win.

Kluemper said the added time in the pool will help the younger swimmers prepare for their first important meet at the Recreation Center. The Salukis have 14 freshmen on the roster, and that inexperience has played an important role in the SIUC’s 1-5 record.

In swimming, you have to put time in practice for a long time before it pays off, Kluemper said. We’re trying to keep their spirits up and show them that it’s going to take a lot of hard work. I knew it would take a whole semester before they became ready.

One of the reasons for the large number of freshmen was Kluemper’s ability to do a solid job of rebuilding the team. Last year, the Salukis lost six seniors to graduation.

Recruiting went really well. It kind of snowballed, and we got more and more people, Kluemper said. It just mushroomed into a big class.

Seniors Kiki Sidiropoulou and Karla Gerzema are the lone seniors on the SIUC squad. Sidiropoulou set a new MVC record for the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5 minutes and 5.27 seconds in the 1996 meet. Gerzema, who also competes in diving, set the meet record with 425.50 points on her way to a first-place finish in the 3-meter diving competition a year ago.

Throughout the season, Gerzema and Sidiropoulou have served as the inspirational leaders in trying to prevent another disappointing second-place finish.

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The upperclassmen have had that theme all year long, Kluemper said. They feel that title is one that we have to get back.

For Flannery to help her team achieve its goals, she said she is going to have to control her emotions and stay focused.

I’ve been trying not to be frustrated about what I’ve done this season, she said. I have not swam at the best level I wanted to do, but I know I can do better.

FACTOID:The women’s Missouri Valley Conference championship beings at noon today and runs through Saturday. Races will be taking place all day at the Recreation Center.