DALLAS (SMU) – The 16-time conference champion Mustangs, under the direction of head coach Eddie Sinnott, have announced a challenging schedule for the 2015-16 season. Coming off a runner-up finish at the 2015 American Athletic Conference Championship, SMU looks to continue its momentum and compete for the AAC crown in 2016.
The Mustangs open their season on Oct. 2 at the UNT Relays in Southlake, Texas, an event which features three-man relay teams. October also features a match-up with Metroplex rival TCU on the 28th in Fort Worth.
A pair of events highlight the month of November, as dual-meet action with LSU takes place on Nov. 7, and the Texas A&M Invite is set for Nov. 19-21. The Tigers finished ninth at the SEC Championship last season and went on to send one relay, an individual participant and a diver to the NCAA Championship.
It is the SMU divers who begin the 2016 portion of the schedule, competing at the Georgia Diving Invite in Athens Jan. 3-5. Swimmers resume action in the new year on Jan. 12 as they travel to take on in-state foe Incarnate word in San Antonio. January also features the highly competitive Austin Grand Prix, a three-day event taking place the 14-16, as well as dual action at Texas A&M Jan. 29.
SMU’s final tune-up before championship season takes place on Feb. 6, as the Mustangs host a pre-conference time trial event in Mansfield, which includes teams from UNT and Oklahoma Baptist.
The 2016 American Athletic Conference Championship takes place Feb. 17-20 in Houston, and the NCAA Championship is slated for March 24-26 in Atlanta. Zone diving qualifications for the NCAA meet are scheduled for March 7-9 in College Station.
A season ago, SMU finished second at The American Championship, with three Mustangs earning individual accolades. Christian Scherubl was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet in his first season, Devin Burnett earned Most Valuable Diver honors, after winning all three events, and Jim Stillson was named the men’s Diving Coach of the Year. SMU also broke four meet records at the event, with Scherubl breaking the school’s 500 free record in the process.
Prior to NCAA Championship action, the Mustangs will compete at the American Short Course Championship in Austin March 3-5, and following the championship season, select Ponies will travel to Mesa, Arizona, for the Mesa Grand Prix.
The annual alumni meet will kick things off during SMU’s Homecoming weekend, beginning at 10 a.m. CT on Sept. 26. All swimming alumni, family and friends of the program are welcome to attend.
Swimming news courtesy of SMU Men’s Swimming & Diving.