The OSU synchronized swimming team begins its quest for another championship season this Saturday when they dive into competition at Larkins Hall at 7 a.m. The Buckeyes host Michigan State, Indiana and Miami (Ohio) at the OSU Tri-Meet.This meet, however, should not challenge the Bucks at all.”These schools are still in developmental stages and don’t have synchronized swimming as a varsity sport,” said coach Linda Lichter-Witter.Although these teams can’t contend with the Bucks, Lichter-Witter said she is happy to have the competition. The team will focus on brushing up on their routines and getting everything in order.”This weekend will be a good time to try things out and see what works and what doesn’t,” she said.The meet is called the Tri-Meet because only three of the four routines will be performed in this competition: the solo, the duet and the trios. The team competition, in which all eight team members compete, will not be introduced until later meets in the season.Lisa Nielsen, a senior majoring in sociology, said the team is extremely confident going into this weekend’s meet.”We have done very well against these teams before, and they shouldn’t give us any problems,” she said. Lichter-Witter said the team has been full of enthusiasm and has been working hard, but has a long way to go before nationals.”The girls are a young bunch, but have been making a strong effort to come together,” she said. “The team is not quite polished yet, but I’m confident the team will come together in the end.”Despite being a relatively young team, Nielsen said this year’s team is further along than she had thought they would be.”Bringing new swimmers together requires so much communication both in and out of the water,” she said. “We have to learn each other forward and backwards, and so far we have looked great. Things probably won’t be perfect though, until about two minutes before nationals.”The Bucks will take advantage of this weekend to get the team’s routines in order. OSU should cruise through this weekend’s meet and will use other meets like it as stepping stones to prepare for their eventual clash against the Cardinal.”We really won’t face any serious competition until we meet Stanford in Minnesota for the national title,” Lichter-Witter said.