As the swim season enters full swing, the men’s team holds a record of 2-4 on the season, and the women’s has split even at 2-2.
Last week for the Raven’s, the women racked up several wins in individual events. The swimmers won the first event of the meet, the 200 Medley Relay, against Hanover College and continued to dominate by winning the next four events.
AU swimmers Tess Maubach, Lily Hunter, Jessica Pulaski and Tori Haessig made up the Relay team clocking in a first-place victory with a 2 minute and 1.17 second time. Kaitlyn Hopp and Lillia Mitchell also had a field day, raking in first place victories in 1000, 500 and the 200 individual medley events respectively.
“As a whole, our team dynamic is supportive and light-hearted,” said sophomore swimmer Claire Leibold. “At both practice and meets, it’s common to hear shouts of encouragement and positivity across the pool. On an individual level, each of us is invested in the success of one another as well as our program. But even beyond that, we have a whole lot of fun together.”
The men’s team has fared just as well. The team snuck in a 97-96 victory over Hanover. Swimmers Noah Schaffer, Evan Kropf, Josh Ekberg and Kris Keller, placed first in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1 minute and 42.16 seconds. Ekberg also claimed first-place finishes in the 200-yard individual medley as well as the 100 breaststroke against Hanover.
Noah Schaffer also claimed a first-place victory in the 100 butterfly, clocking in with a time of 55.42 seconds. The win also put the men’s team in the history books for AU, making them the men’s swim team in the program’s four years with the most victories.
“I’m really excited to see how the rest of this season plays out,” said Leibold. “Both the men’s and women’s teams have high goals for the conference, and I honestly believe that our hard work will have great results this year. With our women’s team on a winning streak, I have high hopes for success this season.”
The relationships that she has formed throughout her time on the team are really what means the most to her.
“For me, swimming isn’t all about beating the person in the lane next to you, although that part is pretty fun, too,” said Leibold. “It’s about the energy, the spirit, and the heart of the team. My favorite thing about the swim and dive program at AU is the community we’ve built. I’ve found my best friends through this program. I love that I get to share the victories, the hardship, and the belly-aching laughs with some of the best people I know.”
It goes without saying that AU will be paying close attention to both of these historic swim teams.