While much of the WSU population was enjoying its vacation and avoiding the unpredictable winter weather, the WSU swimming team trained under the sunny rays of Delray Beach, Florida in preparation for its upcoming meet against Oregon State.

During their training the Cougars also kept the Pac-12 Championships in mind, which begins Feb. 24 in Federal Way, WA and will end three days later.

The team spent 12 days in Florida, where it practiced at a training camp, spending five hours per day in the water.

“It was a great trip for our kids to focus in on swimming without school,” WSU Head Coach Tom Jager said. “When they’re in school that’s usually their number one priority and it should be.”

The last time the Cougars competed was on Dec. 5, where they swept the Redhawks of Seattle University.

Now the team is back in the Palouse conditioned and ready to take on the Beavers.

“Oregon State is a good team, they have one of the best distance swimmers in the country so it will be good to see her come in and swim,” Jager said referring to OSU senior Sammy Harrison.

Harrison became the first Pac-12 champion in Oregon State history as a sophomore in the 1,650 freestyle.

The Beavers are coming off a recent win over both Willamette University and South West Oregon Community College. OSU finished with scores of 138 and 143 while Willamette finished with 78 and SWOCC with a 62.

The team is anxious to race, something Jager says can be a positive or a negative thing as it can sometimes get too excited and then fail to perform well.

“We’re definitely ready and we’re just going to keep preparing,” senior Presley Wetterstrom said.

The crowd that surrounds Gibb Pool is a great source of energy for the team to absorb and they hope this meet will be no different.

The Cougars will challenge the Beavers at 5:00 p.m. Friday at Gibb Pool.