Here comes the first big test of the season.

Eastern will hold the Panther Invitational this weekend in Lantz Natatorium.

Swimming head coach Ray Padovan says he considers this the biggest meet prior to Christmas.

The Panthers will be facing many opponents from the Mid-Continent Conference (where Eastern competes for swimming) including Evansville, Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis and Louisville. They will also be facing Lewis, who is not in-conference.

The Panthers are ready for the competition to come in.

“This is the first big meet, we’re swimming in our own pool and facing multiple teams,” Padovan said.

Some of the swimmers share Padovan’s enthusiasm, but feel the pressure as well.

‘It’s our first big meet,” said senior Bill Senese. “We’ll be facing three in conference, so there is a little bit of pressure, but after doing this for so long, you just have to go out and do your thing.”

The Panthers are aware that this is a more important than the previous meets.

“Because we’re facing more than one team and we’re in our own pool, it’s a little more important,” said senior Kristin McCoy.

Padovan says the team that gives him the greatest concern is Evansville.

“On this particular meet, Evansville looks like the team we will struggle against the most,” he said. “On paper, this looks real close.”

Senese says he enjoys the fact that there will be tough competition.

“Evansville brings good competition and it’s exciting to have good competition,” he said. “But we’ve beat them before and we can do it again.’

The women’s team doesn’t seem too bitter over their one-point loss to Evansville.

“We’re not really looking for revenge,” McCoy said. “It’s about coming together as a team and trying our best.”

Besides learning about how good the competition is, Padovan says he will also get to see how good his team is.

“I don’t like making any pre-judgments, but with our guys, the sprinting team is our strongest area and we need to step it up, ” he said.

Padovan says he hopes to see some of his talent have a big meet.

“Bill Senese is our number one guy, this is where we really need him to do well,” he said.

Padovan is also hoping for some of the freshman to step up.

“A lot of freshmen will take a important role,” he said. “With 18 competitors and 12 spots to place, every spot counts.”

While discussing talented freshmen, Padovan made time to point out one individual freshman.

“Chelsea Hahn has had an exceptional start,” he said. “Last weekend, she had a lifetime best swim, and that is really unusual this early in the season. That usually happens later in the season.”

The Panther Invitational will be held on Friday and Saturday with events starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. on Saturday.