GOPHERS CLOSE OUT 2007 CALENDAR YEAR AT OHIO STATE INVITE
The University of Minnesota men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams close out the 2007 calendar year this weekend at the third-annual Ohio State Invitational, Nov. 30-Dec. 2. Both the men’s and women’s teams will travel their full squads to the competition.

LAST TIME AT THE OSU INVITE
The last time the Gophers competed at the OSU Invite dates back to the 2005-05 season when Minnesota won the competition with a score of 890 points when it won 11 events. The Maroon and Gold beat out Penn State (546), Ohio State (345) and Michigan State (284) for the team title. Minnesota won the 200, 400 and 800 free relays as well as the 200 medley relay. Individually, Jenny Shaughnessy won both the 200 and 400 individual medleys, while Christine Jennings won the 500 free and Yuen Kobayashi won the 1,650 free. Former Gopher Katie Wind won the 100 and 200 back, while Bridget McCoy won the 100 breaststroke.

THE COMPETITION
The Gopher women’s swim team will face nonconference opponents Bowling Green and Denver as well as conference foes Iowa, Illinois, Michigan State and host Ohio State. On the men’s side, Minnesota will compete against Denver, Iowa, Michigan State and Notre Dame. The Gopher divers will face Alabama, Arizona State, Bowling Green, Denver, Iowa, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue and Miami.

BOTH GOPHER TEAMS RANKED IN THE TOP 10
Both of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are ranked as a top 10 team in the nation. On the women’s side, ther Gophers hold their highest ranking in school history at No. 9 overall. The Gophers lead the Big Ten, while Penn State is ranked 11th overall, followed by Michigan (13), Wisconsin (19) and Indiana.
On the men’s side, the Gophers are ranked No. 10 in the nation. Michigan holds the fourth-place ranking, followed by Indiana (7), the Gophers, Purdue (12), Ohio State (13), Northwestern (17) and Penn State (19).

ON THE STARTING BLOCKS
The Gophers will partake on their annual Hawaii Winter Training Trip and will compete against Cal-Berkeley and Idaho on Jan. 5 in Kona, Hawaii. Minnesota's next home action is Jan. 19 when Arizona State comes to town. The meet is set for a noon start at the University Aquatic Center.

ORDER OF EVENTS

Friday, Nov. 30

11 a.m. Preliminaries

500 Freestyle

200 Individual Medley

50 Freestyle

2 p.m. Diving Preliminaries

6 p.m. Swimming Finals

200 Freestyle Relay

500 Freestyle

200 Individual Medley

50 Freestyle

400 Medley Relay

7 p.m. 1-Meter Diving Finals

Saturday, Dec. 1

10 a.m. Swimming Preliminaries

400 Individual Medley

100 Butterfly

200 Freestyle

100 Breaststroke

100 Backstroke

1 p.m. Diving Preliminaries

5 p.m. Swimming Finals

200 Medley Relay

400 Individual Medley

100 Butterfly

200 Freestyle

100 Breaststroke

100 Backstroke

800 Freestyle Relay

7 p.m. 3-Meter Diving Finals

Sunday, Dec. 2

9 a.m. Swimming Preliminaries

200 Backstroke

100 Freestyle

200 Breaststroke

200 Butterfly

1,650 Freestyle

Noon 10-Meter Diving Finals

3 p.m. Swimming Finals

1,650 Freestyle

200 Backstroke

100 Freestyle

200 Breaststroke

200 Butterfly

400 Freestyle Relay