Although the men’s and women’s swimming teams are going their separate ways this weekend, they both want to head in the same direction—stopwatch improvement.

In last weekend’s coed meet at Western Illinois University, both Huskie crews came up short on the scoreboard, but swim coach Jeanne Fleck was encouraged by several individual swims. Both teams find themselves in the underdog role for this week, so the stopwatch will be Fleck’s measurement for progress.

The Huskie men journeyed to Madison, Wis. last night and came up empty 128-100. NIU’s Art Sanchez was impressive in defeat. Sanchez won the 50 free, took a second in the 100 free and swam the final leg for the Huskies’ second place 400 medley relay squad.

Tonight, both squads compete at the University of Iowa (7 p.m.) before the women’s team heads to Iowa State for a Saturday 1: p.m. meeting with the Cyclones.

Kristin Scholz and Pam Jackson, who turned in two first-place finishes apiece against Western look to pace the women Huskies. Mark Oostman, diver Bryan Hanania, Scott Adams and Sanchez anchor the men.