After the first weekend of the women's swimming and diving season, coach Laura Seibold-Caudill did not expect to have a winning record. But the Cardinals did.
Seibold-Caudill said last weekend's results were very unexpected as the Cardinals fell 12 points shy of defeating the University of Toledo and beat Bowling Green State University. After starting the season in an impressive way, Seibold-Caudill said she expects things to continue in much of the same way this weekend as the Cardinals travel to the University of Akron and the University at Buffalo.
"I am very pleased with our performance, the goal now is to just stay healthy," Seibold-Caudill said.
A number of the Cardinals have been battling flu-like symptoms for the past week and a pair of seniors will not be making the trip. Lisa Maertin, who won three of the four diving events last weekend, will not be making the trip because of class obligations. Sarah Kehe will not be going because it is her first week with the team as the cross country season concluded last weekend. After debating, Seibold-Caudill decided it would be best if Kehe didn't make the trip.
"Coming off a tough cross country season and with MAC last weekend, I feel she deserves a weekend off to get her revitalized and refocused into swimming," Seibold-Caudill said.
Despite not having the pair of seniors, both Seibold-Caudill and assistant coach Mike Kerr feel optimistic about the team's chances this weekend because of the progress that has been made thus far. Both agreed that the freshman are really progressing quickly.
"The freshmen have really bought into the system," Kerr said. "They were recruited with the impression of a combined team and thought they would be under a different coach on a day to day basis, but they have really bought into the system and it is evident by the times they put up the first weekend."
Kerr also credits the senior class for buying into the new system after spending three years under the old system of a combined men and women's team and having Bob Thomas, now the men's coach, run the swimming practices. Kerr and Seibold-Caudill also decided to make all eight seniors this year's captains, a system that seems to be working.
"Putting all eight seniors as captains might not work on some teams, but they have done a really good job of divvying up responsibilities and making sure everyone gets a chance to step up and lead the team," Kerr said.
Friday's meet against the Zips will begin at 5 p.m.
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