Lincoln, NE (U-WIRE) -- Trying to create a team, let alone a competitive one, from scratch is no easy feat.

That's what Nebraska swimming and diving Coach Pablo Morales attempted when he first set foot on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus in the summer of 2001.

Before Morales arrived, the Nebraska men's swimming and diving program was deep in a swamp of player suspensions and unproven accusations. The pressure surrounding the program eventually led to the demise of the men's program.

The women's program, which had won five of the past seven Big 12 Conference titles, was left on unsteady terms and was back to square one.

Many swimmers transferred to other schools, and Morales struggled to field a team his first year because many club coaches from across the country stopped recommending Nebraska to potential recruits.

"It was going to be a challenge, but I wasn't going to be discouraged," Morales said. "I came here to re-establish Nebraska as a national contender and wasn't going to give in."

Morales set out on his goal. He sent people from the Sports Information office to post fliers advertising tryouts for the swimming and diving team.

Twenty girls showed up for the meeting, and through various competitions and exercises, 12 were chosen to participate in the 2001-02 season.

"The swimming program made a special one-year agreement with the NCAA," Morales said. "We needed a team, so they let the university provide the scholarship money."

The Cornhuskers went 0-3 in dual meets and finished last with 186 points in the six-team Big 12. They had no individual champions or NCAA qualifiers.

Morales said even though the team struggled to compete, he was proud of the effort it gave.

"I'll never forget those girls," Morales said. "They helped save Nebraska swimming. Without them, this program would be nonexistent."

Since that first season, it has been a tedious process for NU in improving its image on both the conference and national stages.

In Morales' second season, the Huskers finished sixth in the Big 12 again but went 3-8 in duals and scored 316.50 points.

Thanks to improved recruiting, Nebraska reversed its fortune faster than anticipated by going 7-2 in duals and finishing fourth in the conference with 420 points in the 2003-04 season.

NU's Lauren Bailey qualified for the NCAA Championships - the first NU swimmer to do so since 2001.

Morales heavily recruited Bailey, and this gesture launched the rebuilding of NU's recruiting process.

Bailey is one of five Californians on Nebraska's roster, and there is a plethora of other places represented as well, including Colombia.

"These girls, like Lauren, saw an opportunity here to help bring Nebraska back to the pinnacle, and that makes me happy," Morales said.

The success continued into this season as the Huskers posted a 9-1 record in dual meets, finished third in the conference and qualified two athletes for the NCAA Championships.

Bailey went back to nationals for the second straight year to compete in three events, while diver Amie Buoy qualified in the 1-meter and 3-meter dive.

Buoy's appearance also marked the first time NU had a diver qualify since 2001.

"This season made me so happy," Morales said. "We nearly finished undefeated and finished third behind Texas and Texas A&M.

"Plus, Lauren and Amie made it to nationals. It was so great. I thought the program had made progress, but it has been much faster than I ever expected."

The Huskers appear to be establishing a national presence again and hope to ascend to the top of the Big 12 for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

For Morales, each season has just been another stepping stone in the process to return Nebraska to where it once was.

"I came here to bring Nebraska back to the top, where it belongs," Morales said. "We're not there yet, but we're getting there, which makes me more determined than ever."

(C) 2004 Daily Nebraskan via U-WIRE