Swimmers aim for fifth straight championship

The UNCW Swimming and Diving team hasn’t just remained a float the past few years, but taken their conference by storm. The men’s team have taken home four CAA championships consecutively from 2002 to 2005 and the women have consistently placed in the top of their conference. Now entering the 2005 season, the teams will have to work hard to make up for the loss of five strong seniors and maintain their reputation and place in conference.

“We’ve been trying to work hard everyday,” said assistant coach Marc Ellington. “The goal is to win conference title but it’s a long road between there and here.”

Ellington said the swim team strives to be good students, good athletes and keep training in perspective. After training for two months with no competition, the teams were ready for the meets to begin.

The men’s swimming and diving team opened the season with a 151-90 win over Duke. The women’s team lost a close meet of 136-107 to Duke but came back to beat Richmond 129-111. Despite the loss of seniors, the teams seem to be picking up the slack.

“We lost some key seniors who graduated so it just depends on how the freshman step it up,” said senior Mike Krayer. “I noticed my freshman year and the year before me they were a lot more determined and now people have taken it for granted.”

The Swimming and Diving squad is a combined team where diving counts as two events at each meet. Most meets are dual meets, where two teams compete, which prepares the team for the conference meet in February. Krayer believes UNCW’s biggest rival is East Carolina, and the atmosphere is great, with fans standing because they can’t find seats. This meet is scheduled for Feb. 4 at UNCW.

“This season we hope to be successful,” Head Coach Dave Allen said. “By that I mean improving performances with faster times and smarter racing,”

Team leaders from the men’s team are seniors Mike Krayer, Ben Pulskamp, Nate Chessey, Dean Berman and Adam Brenneman. Senior Rebecca Teague has been strong and consistent over the last three years for the women’s team. Juniors Melissa Milstead and Sarah Beth Schooly, and freshman April Kerstetter have stepped up and shown strength on the women’s team.

“The team atmosphere is great. Everyone is behind each other, pushing each other at practice, in weights and running,” said sophomore Katie McClure. “Conference is really far away but we don’t slack off because it’s the work we put in now that matters.”

Climbing to the top of conference is just as hard as staying at the top. After months of practice the teams have been unleashed on the 2005 season and can continue working toward the conference championship. The UNCW Swim Team has their first home meet against Emory on Oct. 29 and admission is free.