The emotions will be flowing tomorrow at the Robinson Center Natatorium.

All six seniors will be honored before the start of the match-up with Iowa State at 2 p.m.

Aside from being teammates for four years, the six seniors have been through a lot together, including a coaching change three years ago.

Coach Clark Campbell credits part of the seniors’ success to their willingness to accept him as their new coach.

“You know, they bought into a new coach three years ago, and I’m really humbled,” Campbell said. “They’re a fun, dynamic group. I hate seeing them go. I wish I could have four more years with them.”

Junior Gina Gnatzig shares the same feelings about the leaders.

“This weekend is going to be hard and emotional,” Gnatzig said.

Senior captain Becca Zarazan is expecting a familiar feeling when she takes to the water tomorrow.

“The last home meet of the season makes me feel the same way as I felt my first meet in college,” Zarazan said. “I’m nervous, excited and most of all proud to be a part of something so special.”

Emotions aside, the team must also focus on swimming well against Iowa State. The team remains 0-4 in the Big 12 conference. This is Kansas’ last chance to record a conference win before competing at the Big 12 Championships in College Station, Texas, beginning March 23.

The Jayhawks traveled to Ames, Iowa, to challenge the Cyclones last January. Kansas not only won the meet 140-103, but also ended a four-meet winning streak for Iowa State.

Both Iowa State and Kansas have struggled in the Big 12, with both teams losing to Nebraska and Missouri.

Assistant coach Jen Fox, a former swimmer at Kansas who graduated in 2001, said that the meet against Iowa State was a good opportunity for the Jayhawks to polish some flaws before heading to the conference championships.

“For this meet, we’re looking forward to getting some good racing in and cleaning some things up before conference,” Fox said.

Gnatzig said the Jayhawks couldn’t take the Cyclones lightly.

“We bring out the best in people, and they have very strong distance swimmers,” Gnatzig said.

The anxiety of the final home meet and the farewell to the seniors has the team pumped up for tomorrow’s meet in Robinson.

“We want to go out with a bang,” Zarazan said. “We don’t like to lose in our house.”

Campbell said he hoped people would go to the last home meet, which is free to attend.

“We want to fill the stands,” Campbell said. “For our seniors, who have done so much for our program, it would be awesome to see as many Jayhawk fans as possible on Saturday.

“Our team really feeds off the energy generated by a full house.”

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Swimming Seniors

Name,Hometown Events

Aly Colver Holyoke, Colo. Freestyle

Amy Gruber Bigelow, Ark. Butterfly, Freestyle

Miranda Isaac Hutchinson Breaststroke

Katie Knighton Wichita Backstroke

Jackie Krueger Sussex, Wis. Freestyle

Becca Zarazan Southlake, Texas Butterfly, Freestyle

Source: University of Kansas Athletic Department