As Grinnell’s swim and diving season begins, they are hoping to make a splash at Conference with a goal of meeting 1000 team points at the meet.
Last year, the swim team at the conference meet scored 987.5 points, which was only 12.5 points from their 1000 team points goal. Matt Hedman `19, head swimming and diving coach said the swim team has been great at dominating Conference meets over the past years but wants to work on qualifying either individuals or relay teams for National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), with a hope of moving toward nationals.
“We had a really strong season last year,” Hedman said. “So seeing if we can expand that margin of victory on Conference level and have opportunities to be ranked in the top 25.”
During preseason, swimmers were only practicing Monday, Wednesday and Friday to ease them back into training since many weren’t training intensely over the summer break. Now that the season has started, swimmers have a full weekly schedule of practices.
“We have morning practices now, in addition to practices there are bridges,” Eva Cuevas `25 said, captain of the women’s team.
Cooper Malone `25, captain of the men’s team, explained that bridges are externally sourced weightlifting programs that the swimmer uses. Malone also said the team has a committed system of lifting groups to hold swimmers more accountable in the gym along with a sign in sheet at the gym.
“It’s definitely [a] more intensive schedule than it was last year,” Malone said.
Coach Hedman said he made changes such as mandatory Monday practice to improve the team relay starts since their reaction times were slow last season. He wants the team to have stronger kickers since their kicks drive every stroke. Hedman added that the Conference meet won’t take place until near the end of February, so he is really focusing on growing the team individually through one-on-one meetings.
“It’s really a working partnership between me and each athlete to kind of create a training program as well as technique feedback at each practice to be able to work towards their goals.”
“Everybody has an impact on the team,” Hedman said. Whether they are a top swimmer or a swimmer that isn’t scoring any points, “[the] attitude you bring to practice, your work ethic that’s going to impact everybody around you.”
“Team bonding contributes a ton to our success,” said Hannah Sweet `25, captain of the women’s team. “We have a very large team and not everyone is necessarily swimming for points at our championship meet, but that doesn’t mean everyone isn’t playing hard on the team.”
Sweet explained that the swim team has a tradition where the women’s team call themselves “the ducks” and the men’s team call themselves “the dawgs,” to build team support and camaraderie. The team then gives a statue of the animal to someone at the end of the meets, gaining them the title “dawg of the day” and “duck of the day.” Sweet said that it’s a shoutout for swimmers, whether it’s for their competitive success or how they supported a teammate.
“I hold it really close to my heart,” Sweet said. “I think it’s a great way to recognize our teammates in little ways.”
