Some members of the Oberlin swimming and diving teams have traveled to Oxford, Ohio, to compete in a four-day, non-conference invitational at Miami University of Ohio that began on Thursday. After this meet, the season will be at a stand still until the beginning of Winter Term.
Both swimming teams have only three meets during Winter Term, which will give them ample time to focus on technique and conditioning.
“We have hardcore training during Winter Term,” senior captain Todd Wedge said. “We have two sets of practices a day. By February, you’re swimming like a stallion.”
As practices increase, so does the pain. Both teams take measures to reduce the muscle aches and cramping that are associated with the upcoming vigorous training during Winter Term.
“We are focused on our performance in the conference meet [during Winter Term],” Wedge said. “We don’t say, ‘pass the Ibuprofen,’ we say ,‘pass the candy.’”
The season has started off nicely for both the men’s and the women’s teams.
“We swam very well against Wittenberg,” junior Nicole Middaugh said.
Oberlin hosted Wittenberg University on Nov. 16. The men’s team finished with 84 against Wittenberg’s 121 and the women’s team fell 125-85. Although both teams lost, their overall performance was something to be proud of.
“We are in one of the toughest conferences when it comes to division three swimming,” Middaugh said. “The top teams in our conference rank nationally.”
“Every meet so far has been lifetime bests or season bests for many members of the team,” junior captain Meagan Dunphy-Daly said.
Among the swimmers who have had a season best time against Wittenberg was Middaugh, in the backstroke and relay, Dunphy-Daly, in the 500 free, and junior Lindsay Martin-McCormick, in the 500 free.
The women’s swim team is still getting adjusted to losing last year’s seniors and gaining this year’s first-years.
“The women’s team is smaller this year because we lost seven seniors,” Dunphy-Daly said. “We don’t even have enough for two relays and last year we had three. This is a rebuilding year. We are focusing more on individual events.”
The men’s team, losing one senior, is not suffering as much as the women’s team.
“This season has been on of the best in all of my years here,” Wedge said. “We have so much talent in the first-years. The dynamics are great and everyone has a good attitude.”
On Jan. 11, the team will compete in their fifth conference meet this season.