GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University swimming and diving teams will compete in their final pre-championship tune-up meets this weekend as they head to Denver and Colorado Springs.
 
On Friday at 4 p.m., the Mavericks will take on the Division I University of Denver in a 13-event dual meet (schedule below) in the Pioneers' version of El Pomar Natatorium, incidentally the same name as CMU's home facility.  The Mavericks will then head compete in the first day of the Colorado College Classic on Saturday but will not contest events on the second day of that 2-day meet.
 
The Maverick men enter the weekend ranked 10^th in the latest Division II TYR Top 25 Coaches Poll, announced by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America on Tuesday and are coming off a convincing 231-84 home dual meet win over the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in their only previous action of the new year.  The Mavs, who had dominated Mines in the A3 Performance/CMU Invitational in December as well, are 2-3 overall in dual meets but all three losses have coming against Division I foes in the first two meets of the year.
 
They will have a tough challenge against the Pioneers on Friday as Denver is receiving 12 points and is just outside the Top 25 in this week's Division I TYR/CSCAA Poll.
 
CMU's women are now ranked 12^th in the national poll with 71 points.  They also defeated Mines by a score of 187-128 on Jan. 4 and 5 and enter Friday's dual with a 6-4 overall record, which includes a perfect 6-0 mark against Division II and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes.
 
Saturday's meet will include many of the Mavericks' RMAC foes and will begin with a 10 a.m. preliminary session in the Tigers' Schlessman Natatorium.  The 1-meter diving completions for both the men and women will then commence at 12:30 p.m. before a swimming only finals session at 5 p.m. 
 
In 2017, the Mavericks made a similar trip competing against DU men and women and the Boise State women on Jan. 21 before heading to the second day of the Colorado College classic on Jan. 22.  They won 11 events at the classic as the Maverick men finished second while the women finished third despite not competing in the half of the meet, which will again be the case this year.
 
Following this weekend, the Mavericks will continue final preparations for the Feb. 14-17 RMAC Championships and the Mar. 13-17 NCAA Division II National Championships.
 
Denver University Dual Meet Schedule (Jan. 19 – 4 p.m. start)
 
200 Med Relay
1000 Free
200 Free
50 Free
400 IM
1m Diving
100 Fly
100 Free
100 Back
500 Free
3m Diving
100 Breast
200 Free Relay
 
Colorado College Classic – Day 1 Schedule
Swimming Preliminary Session (10 a.m. Start)
 
200 IM
50 Free
100 Breast
200 Back
100 Fly
500 Free
400 Medley Relay (timed final)
 
12:30 p.m.
Men's & Women's 1m Diving

Swimming Preliminary Session (10 a.m. Start)
 
800 Free Relay (timed final)
200 IM
50 Free
100 Breast
200 Back
100 Fly
500 Free
200 Medley Relay (timed final)