Swim Team Dominates Double-Dual Meet

The Men and Women’s swim teams competed in a double-dual meet against both Salisbury University and Gallaudet University on Saturday Oct. 31. Similar to the previous meet against Washington and Lee on Oct. 16, both teams swept the meet- taking first place in every event.

The Washington and Lee victory was the first time in the history of UMW’s swimming program that the men won in this fashion. And following Saturday’s sweep, both the men and women have a 3-1 record.

Saturday’s top placers include Adriana Lesiuk, who placed first in both the 50 freestyle and the 200 freestyle with times of 25.20 and 2:03.44, respectively. And Nina Sawyer who was first in the 50 backstroke (29.18) and the 100 breaststroke (1:13.2). On the men’s side, senior Jason McCormack placed first in both the 50 butterfly and the 100 butterfly with 24.74 and 56.14, respectively.

Senior Justin Anderson, who placed first in both the 200 IM (2:05.29) and the 200 freestyle relay (1:32.59), said that “training intensifies each season,” and that without a taper at this time, the team is faster than ever before. Anderson also said that the upcoming double-dual meet against both York and Hood College on Nov. 6 will most likely be the “best competition of the year,” and a great preview to what conferences will be like.

Sophomore Megan DeSmit said that the “good freshmen class” and the “strong senior leaders” are what will pull the team through the season. DeSmit placed first in the 50 breaststroke on Saturday with a time of 26.82.

Head Coach Matt Sellman, who is in his third year coaching the men’s and women’s teams, was conveying high energy towards the team while speaking to them before a practice earlier this week. “…the double-dual meet makes it dangerous…they can surprise us” he warned when referencing the upcoming meet against York and Hood. “Just step up when behind the block and be ready to Rock ’n Roll” said Sellman, before reading off a long list of workouts for the day’s practice.

Despite the team being “broken down from training,” and swimming some off events on Saturday (events that the swimmers don’t usually swim), the coach is ready to see what his team can do.

“ [I] just have to remind them they [York and Hood] can’t beat us,” Selman said.

Like most of the campus, the swim team has been battling the flu and the suspected H1N1 virus. Within the past two weeks, the team has seen at least seven swimmers missing at any given practice or meet, Selman said. When we had “eight people home last Saturday,” that’s “almost ¼ of the team” he reiterated.

Coach Matt Selman continued on to say that “swimmers are weird people” and that like the university, he is making sure to remind them to stay healthy and avoid contact with those who may be sick.

After the team competes this Friday, they go on to compete in the highly competitive University of Maryland Terrapin Invitational on Nov. 19-21.