Author: Laura Bertocci
The Occidental Swimming and Diving Team is ending its season with a splash. With many competitive meets under its belt, the team’s confidence couldn’t be higher heading into SCIAC. “I am very proud of each of them making the commitment to the family,” new Head Coach Alexander Kuhn said of the members. “I have no doubt they will reap the benefits come championships.”
Over the course of the regular season, the team has been practicing roughly 15-20 hours per week. The most difficult training occurred over winter break, during which members were in the pool for four hours at a time, with another hour of weight training after. “Preseason was rough but it got you in shape!” diver Sarah Sharpe (junior) said in an e-mail interview.
Despite a loss to Pomona-Pitzer, the team had a joyful Senior Meet. On Feb. 6, Audrey Akcasu, Will Carlson, Jeven Dovey, Adam Kantor and Sara Mendoza (seniors) were introduced at Taylor Pool for the last time in their collegiate careers. The team formed a human tunnel for the seniors to run through and each received individual commemorative quote sheets from the coach.
The day was filled with many notable moments, including a win from Kantor in both the 50m freestyle (22.29) and 100m freestyle (49.15) events, which were both the season’s bests. In the 50m freestyle, Lauren Howarth (first-year) and Danielle Garcia (first-year) finished 1-2 in 25.76 and 25.93, respectively. This marked the end of the regular season. They will go on to compete at the SCIAC Championships on Feb. 21-23.
The season was a trying one for swimming and diving, which included a defeat at the hands of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 169-68 and 176.5-58.5, respectively. The team’s meet with La Verne University was a test of its rallying capabilities. Significantly behind after the women’s diving events, the men’s perseverance brought the Tigers closer to a victory after the last 200-yard freestyle relay.
“Performance wise, my highlight will be the men’s LaVerne meet,” Kuhn said in an e-mail interview. “It was a meet we were behind by 32 points after diving (we have no male divers), and ended up winning on the last relay by a scant .3 seconds.” The meet ended in a 100-119 women’s, and 117-107 men’s.
With the end of the regular season, SCIAC Championships are the culmination of the swimmers’ performance. “Our entire training program focuses on this one meet,” Kuhn said.Kuhn explained the team’s top three goals for SCIAC: 1) to be the best at things that take no talent; 2) to be the loudest team on the sidelines; and 3) to give 110 percent effort and remain positive.
“Each family member has perfected every small detail from the tightness of their streamline to the way they finish a race,” he said. “I believe each member feeds off the other team members’ support . . . If you can give it everything you have and believe, we will be successful.”
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