ASU Swimming: Territorial Cup showdown featuring Michael Phelps

(Photo: Ross Leviton/WCSN)

The Arizona State swim team will square off this weekend against bitter rival and swimming powerhouse Arizona.

If the atmosphere of the Territorial Cup isn’t enough, then maybe the presence of 18-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps will make the event more electric. Phelps and the rest of the professional team coached by Bob Bowman will swim in exhibition races during breaks in the meet.

“We want to make this an event,” Bowman said. “We want to make it something where people want to come and be apart of it. Its not just about Arizona versus Arizona State, it’s about swimming in general. I think having those pros swim, it will make it a really big event that will encourage a lot of young athletes to come and a lot of local people to come that might not have tasted swimming before.”

ASU is around Phelps and the pro team every day, but UA has yet see that group embrace Arizona State as their home, and that could be intimidating for the Wildcats this weekend.

“I’m pretty sure he [Phelps] wants to swim,” senior Richard Bohus said. It’s like the biggest rivalry meet and one of the biggest in the country and he wants to be apart of it. Next year he is going to be a coach here so hopefully it wont be the last time he will swim in this pool.”

Bohus’s return from injury has been a story in its own right.

In just three meets, the sprinter and backstroke specialist from Hungary holds the team’s top time in the 100-yard backstroke. This weekend Bohus will look to continue his success and showcase his talent against his rivals.

“We started doing dives and relay exchanges,” Bohus said. “We are trying to make them great because these guys are really fast. We are trying to make our exchanges perfect because it is going to be a huge thing.”

The men haven’t defeated UA since 2002, but this year they believe they have the team and the coach to push them to victory.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats have lost a lot of talent like star butterflier Giles Smith and National Team star breastroker Kevin Cordes, which makes them more vulnerable than in years past.

“I am very excited and I know the team is excited,” Bowman said. “It is going to a very special meet. I anticipate a very good crowd here. I know a lot of local clubs will bring their swimmers down. We should have some of the 942 crew here and it should be a good day for swimming in general.”