By Carson Metzker
Elm Staff Writer
Men’s swimming hopes to continue the improvement that they have seen over the past few seasons. The team is currently in the process of building for the future with an amplified training schedule and new talent. They finished the season last year in fifth place of the Centennial Conference. Despite this, they were able to give a strong showing in the Yellow Jacket Invitational, where they finished in second place.
The team will be led this year by senior captains Kevin McKenzie and Cody Weiler. They have added nine freshmen and a handful of transfers this offseason. With a two member senior class, the men’s team will have to rely heavily on the underclassmen.
“The sophomores have done a very good job at leading by example so far,” McKenzie said. “It’s great to see the incoming students learn from them as we come together as one team.”
The team has put a new emphasis on their strength and conditioning program this offseason.
“We were in the weight room the first week back and we’re going to continue to do so all the way through the season.,” McKenzie said. Now that official practices have started, the team will have to swim two hours a day, which adds a new intensity to training.
“There is a lot of potential with the number of freshmen and transfers we have” McKenzie said. “However, we have no expectations other than to do our best every day; results will come.”
By looking inward and keeping the focus on each individual day, the team should continue their improvement.
“We’ll be our best as long as we keep pushing and stay healthy,” McKenzie said.
The team will begin their season in a duel meet against Division 1 Delaware University on Oct. 21st. The home opener will be against, conference rival Franklin and Marshall College on Oct. 28.