The National Independent Championships has arrived for the SIUC swimming and diving teams, and according to women’s swim coach Mark Kluemper, the NIC’s is the meet of the year for the Salukis the teams.

The NIC’s, which takes place in Little Rock, Ark., is designed to bring aquatic talent from several areas of the country to compete in a large competitive setting. Action in the water begins on Feb. 21, and will end on Feb. 24.

Although most of the teams competing this week are in a conference, this meet is designed, according to Kluemper, to give schools looking for good swimming and diving competition to finish up their seasons strong.

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Kluemper said the Missouri Valley Conference Championships and the dual meets throughout the year are stepping stones for the NIC’s.

The MVC’s are important for us, but for the swimming team, this is our biggest meet because this is what we point towards the entire year, Kluemper said.

Kluemper explained this meet will be the meet for his swimmers to perform at their top levels.

Everybody should go into this meet hoping to swim their lifetime best swims in everything they compete in, Kluemper said.

Kluemper said he feels at this point in the season, this particular team is the best in memory, and they are ready for the upcoming competition.

I feel really good about this team, Kluemper said. Better than any team, I can think of in terms of where they stand headed into the last meet of the year.

Kluemper also said the past two weeks have allowed his team to focus in on the NIC’s, and said his seniors should lead the way.

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I think they (the team) look outstanding, Kluemper said. I also feel very good because we do have a good sized senior class, and their experience is going to lead the team and prevent anyone from getting too anxious before they even race.

On the women’s side of competition, four MVC schools will be represented including Illinois State, Evansville, Southwest Missouri, and SIUC.

Kluemper said tough competition may come from teams outside of the MVC though.

I really think it’s going to come down to three or four schools, Kluemper said. I think for sure it will be us and Cincinnati. Cincinnati beat us earlier in the year, so I would give them the nod as being the favorite going into this meet.

Kluemper also said Florida Atlantic University and Illinois State will be in the hunt for the meet title on the women’s side.

Men’s swim coach Rick Walker said the NIC’s is, in some ways, bigger than the MVC Championships.

This meet is the end of the year, Walker said. For the seniors, this is their last chance to mount an effort that surpasses anything they’ve done, and this is how they want to be remembered.

Walker said this meet will be the last opportunity for swimmers and divers to qualify for the NCAA Championships, and he said there are a few members of the team who are close to filling that void.

We didn’t have any NCAA cuts at the MVC’s, so this is our last chance to get those cuts, Walker said. The bottom line is if it’s going to happen (qualifying for the NCAA’s), this has got to be it.

I think we’re knocking on the door with a couple of guys, Walker said. I think (sophomore swimmer) Jeff Clark’s got a great chance. I think (sophomore swimmer) Steve Munz has a great chance and (junior swimmer) Chris Pelant.

There’s a whole host of guys who could really make some incredible swims and put themselves in a situation where they might get picked up, he said.

Walker said Western Kentucky, Cincinnati, Florida Atlantic, and Southwest Missouri will all be tough teams and he said this meet will be one time where the team goes in and does the best they can to find out where they stand.

Where do we fit, Walker said. We want to fit at the top. We’re going into this meet with every expectation of being at the top.