Despite a rough 0-3 start to the season, both Oberlin swimming and diving teams have shown that even with a squad of 26 total members, they have the heart and incessant work-rate to be competitive week-in and week-out.

The men’s and women’s teams began preparation for the ’06-’07 season on Sept. 18. What started off with basic warm-up drills escalated quickly to intense daily two-hour workouts, which included double sessions and lifting workouts.

Sophomore Sarah Cassella explained that coach Mark Fino’s intense approach has paid off. “Mark is working us hard. I think I am working harder and being pushed harder more than last year.”

Oberlin has a new look after losing top swimmers to graduation and several other key members who quit. Last season, the women finished last in conference and the men finished just outside the top four. Both teams had a wealth of athletes, with the first-year class nearly doubling the rest of the team in number. The women won five meets, which was a drastic improvement, having gone the past six years without a win.

It will be a strenuous season, with a lack of numbers posing a tough obstacle for both teams, especially because the Yeomen only have six members. According to Cassella, there are only two divers, which has been debilitating to Oberlin’s recent competitions.

“In the last two meets, we swam very competitively, coming up just short in several races. Our swimming scores were close, but meets also include scores of divers. The fact that we have fewer divers have given the other teams the advantage,” said Cassella.

Nevertheless, a smaller team has not meant a smaller heart. Cassella says that the mindset for the players is to keep a positive attitude and work hard for the team. There is hope for a strong season from a relatively young Oberlin group, with six seniors on the women’s team and none on the men’s. The Yeowomen return junior and sophomore sisters Kiri and Bryne Ulmschneider, senior captains Emily Spence and Kate Boyd, and sophomore Ploy Keener. The returning men are sophomores Scott McInerney and Mark Muthersbaugh, junior divers Cory Myers and Daniel Timchak and added strong first-year swimmers Daniel Holm and Jacob Wishart.

While the teams have struggled to finish their opponents off, there have been some strong performances. First-year Shannon Gallagher had an Oberlin all-time top-five finish in the 200-yard freestyle and finished first in the 100-yard free against Denison. Fellow first-year Laura Fries also placed first in the 100-yard backstroke in the same meet, which the women lost 79-141, and the men lost 49-154.

In the meet against Baldwin-Wallace on Nov. 1, Gallagher had another strong outing, finishing first in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles. Kiri Ulmschneider came in first in the 1000-yard freestyle and came in second in the 500-yard free, while Bryne won the 200-yard freestyle. Fries won the 100-yard backstroke, and the Yeowomen, composed of Gallagher, Bryne Ulmschneider and Spence, won the 200-medley relay. For the men, Myers won a one-meter diving competition, and McInerney came in second in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly.

The Yeomen had a close meet against Ohio Wesleyan on Nov. 4, with the men losing 75-128 and the women losing 103-134. For the women, Fries won the 200-yard backstroke with the fifth fastest time ever by a Yeowoman in the event. The women also won the 400-yard medley relay, composed of senior Kim Meinert, Kiri Ulmschneider, Gallagher and Fries. In addition, the Yeomen had a strong day with performances by McInerney and Muthersbaugh. The former came in first in the 200-yard backstroke, while Muthersbaugh won the 50-yard freestyle and 200-yard backstroke. The men also beat Ohio Wesleyan in the 400-yard freestyle relay, composed of McInerney, Muthersbaugh, Wishart and senior James Barnard.

Cassella reiterated that Oberlin must continue with strong performances and a high work-rate for the rest of the year. “We must stay positive and continue to work hard. I hope people can stop by and watch us in our home meet against Wittenberg on Saturday.”

Oberlin also will race in the Cleveland State Invitational on Friday, one of the team’s three back-to-back meets this year.