UMW swim teams prepare for the CAC Championship

By MACKENZIE MCCOTTER

Staff Writer

As the swimming season winds down, the University of Mary Washington mens and womens swim teams wait in anticipation for the annual CAC Swim Championship at St. Mary’s College in Maryland. Currently, the men’s swim team is second in the Capital Athletic Conference, only one loss behind York College of Pennsylvania. The women’s team is number one in the conference, leading with a perfect record of 5-0. The CAC Championship meet is Feb. 23-25, with all teams competing against each other before the NCAA Championships at the end of March.

McKinzie Turner, a sophomore majoring in studio art and in the elementary education program, stated that the women’s team is “definitely prepared for the CAC’s” and her favorite part of swimming is “having such a good team and coach that are like family.” The womens record is perfect in conference competition, so it makes sense that Turner believes “it is more nerve-wracking to be racing one of your teammates than someone from another team.” Turner is swimming the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke, as well as the 100-meter Individual Medley.

Turner may be swimming some of the shorter length events, but Kolin Hoffman, a freshman business major, is slated to swim one of the longer events in college swimming. At the CAC Championship, he will be competing in the 500 and 200-meter freestyle on top of the 200-meter butterfly.

“I acknowledge the pain I’m about to feel swimming the race, but also extreme confidence that I can push past that,” said Hoffman when asked about his feelings before races.

Long distance swimming is difficult, especially doing butterfly, which is the most taxing stroke, so it is important that Hoffman, as well as the men’s swim team prepares well for each event they are in. Hoffman and his team has prepared for this meet by practicing with the intensity of a meet every opportunity they can.

Megan Carney, a freshman in the elementary education program, is also swimming the 500-meter freestyle, as well as the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke. Her favorite part of swimming is “seeing yourself and your teammates go best times in meets.” She, and many other swimmers, appreciate seeing all the hours of hard work in the pool and in the weight room pay off.

“When you accomplish something you never thought you could do, the feeling it brings you is so rewarding,” said sophomore accounting major, Carley Vaughn.

Vaughn will be swimming the 100 and 200-meter butterfly and the 100-meter backstroke.

The University of Mary Washington mens and womens teams are slated to do very well because of their current rankings. The NCAA Championship will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Mar. 21-24.