MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota Aquatic Center will again play host to one of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's most popular event as the 2012 MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships prepare to return to Minneapolis this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16-18.

There will be a total of six sessions over the three days, with both a morning and an evening session each day. The morning sessions - each starting at 10:30 a.m. - will feature preliminary races and diving, followed by event finals each evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 9 a.m. for each morning session and at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The doors for Saturday's final session will open at 3 p.m.

In last year's men's championship, St. Olaf College pulled away from a competitive field to claim the conference championship. The Oles accumulated 759.5 points to distance themselves from runner-up St. Thomas (640) and third-place Gustavus (612). Saint John's (564) and Carleton (471.5) also had strong showings last season to round out the top five, and Macalester (149), Saint Mary's (133) and Hamline (127) engaged in a close battle for the final three spots.

The Oles will enter the 2012 meet with their sights on a repeat, but St. Thomas bring a strong, deep team into this year's meet and will try to capture their second title in three years. Carleton, Gustavus and Saint John's should all be a factor once again and will all look to repeat their top-five finishes from a year ago, while Macalester, Saint Mary's and Hamline are all aiming for improvement and more swimmers on the awards podium.

The top two individual awards will be up for grabs as last year's MIAC Swimmer-of-the-Year Chris Bateman (St. Olaf) and MIAC Diver-of-the-Year Eric Brenner (Carleton) were both seniors. St. Olaf's Dave and Bob Hauck were voted the MIAC Men's Swimming Coaches-of-the-Year for leading the Oles to the title, and Carleton's Gabe Korteum was voted the MIAC Diving Coach-of-the-Year.

The two leading candidates to replace Bateman - who was spectacular at last year's championship - are both Oles. Colby Kubat is back to defend his MIAC titles in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke with the top time this season in each event, and he also has this season's best tie in the 200-yard individual medley. Meanwhile, Kubat's teammate Spencer Scarth could be the breakout star of the meet. The sophomore holds the MIAC's top time in three events this season: the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle and the 400-yard individual medley.

Also bolstering the Oles' hopes for back-to-back team titles are Chase Liaboe, the defending champ and top time holder in the 200-yard butterfly and Michael Gratz, who has this season's top time in the 200-yard freestyle.

However, the Tommies will provide a tough test for St. Olaf behind a pair of swimmers aiming for history. Erik Huls is gunning for his fourth-straight championship in the 100-yard butterfly, and the UST senior enters as the favorite again with the conference's top time in the event this season. Meanwhile, teammate Sam Rauchwarter will try to claim his third-straight title in the 200-yard freestyle.

Fellow Tommies Michael Hoelterhoff (100-yard backstroke) and Justin Mullee (200-yard backstroke) are the favorites in the backstroke events with this season's top times, and St. Thomas enters the championships with the top MIAC time in four of the five relay events.

Another swimmer to watch is Carleton star Erik Klontz, who will lead the Knights' strong team with this season's top time in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. Carleton also has the conference's top time in the 200-yard freestyle relay heading into the championships.

On the diving board, it should be a close contest in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events. Saint John's Wes Schlichting and St. Thomas' Nick Johnson enter as the favorites, but expect Saint Mary's Brian Baker and St. Olaf's Ian Straehley to also be in the mix throughout the weekend.

Augsburg College and Carleton College are serving as this year's host institutions. Commemorative T-shirts were available via presale through each participating team, and Augsburg College does have some extra shirts for sale for anyone who missed the presale. In order to reserve a T-shirt, email Augsburg Assistant Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks at: diercks@augsburg.edu and indicate the quantity and sizes (S-XL). T-shirts are $15 each and will be available for pick-up at the event.

Tickets are available at either a single-session rate, or all-session passes will also be available for purchase for fans who plan to attend the entire event. Single session admission is $7 for adults and $3 for students, while the all-session passes cost $40 for adults and $20 for students. This year, the price of admission includes a heat sheet at each session. MIAC sport passes will be accepted for admittance. No other passes or discounts will be honored. Due to construction at the U of M, the only working entrance to the facility will be on the University Ave. side.

As in years past, all six sessions will be broadcast live online thanks to Webcast America (click here). Fans will also be able to watched archived video of each session following the event and purchase DVDs of the broadcasts via Webcast America's site. There will also be "live" results available online with results updated shortly after the conclusion of each event for fans following the action from afar.

The MIAC has an exclusive Web site for the 2012 MIAC Swimming & Diving Championships. The site features the complete event schedule, psych sheet, ticket information, venue information and a map, as well as links to the live broadcast and stats. The site will be constantly updated throughout the event with recaps, photos and more.

Helpful links:
2012 MIAC Swimming & Diving Championships Home Page
Webcast America's Live Broadcast
MIAC Men's Swimming & Diving Home Page
2012 MIAC Women's Swimming & Diving Championship Preview

Listed below are team-by-team previews for all eight MIAC teams competing in the 2011 MIAC Swimming & Diving Championships.

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