Wittenberg’s Swimming and Diving teams head to Denison University this week to finish out their season at their NCAC conference meet.
Since their season started in mid-September, the Tigers have struggled through a long series of injuries and losses to both the team and the coaching staff.
“I’m so proud of the focused and purposeful work the swimmers and divers have put in the pool this season,” said Natalie Koukis, head swimming and diving coach. “It will be great to see it all pay off at conference.”
Senior diver Eric Roberts, who sustained substantial facial injuries after misjudging a dive in December, has fully recovered from the ordeal, and still attends practices to offer coaching to his fellow divers, especially in the absence of longtime diving coach Jim Smith, who recently passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Although Roberts will not be able to compete himself, he will be traveling with the Tigers to support them at Denison.
While the conference meet will signal the end of the swim season for most of the Tigers, a handful will hope to earn their B-cuts and qualify for the nationals meet in March.
Senior breaststrokers AJ Burt and James Dumstorf will look to improve on their times in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events, improving on B-cut times that they obtained in the past. While a B-cut is sufficient to be selected for nationals, only the top qualifiers in the conference will be able to attend the meet.
Junior Dani Lacy will also aim to dominate the freestyle events, after winning both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle at the mid-season invite in December.
And the Tigers will have no shortage of competition. With renowned swimming giants Kenyon and Denison in the pool, the NCAC conference meet is one of the most competitive in the country.
