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Regular season ends with a splash at Senior Night

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By: Dylan DeWitt
Twitter: @dd_witt
Email: dewittd@findlay.edu

Regular season came to an end for the University of Findlay men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams last Friday, Jan. 26. The teams celebrated senior night as they took on the Tiffin Dragons at home.

Outscoring the Lady Dragons 228-43, many of the seniors were highlighted in victories for the Oilers in Sink Natatorium. They included Emma Barnes with victories in the 50 and 100 yard backstroke, Corrina Talamo in the 1000 yard freestyle, and Rachel Farmer with a victory in the 50 yard breaststroke. The trio of swimmers also were also able to grab another victory in the water with Alyssa Sauter for a 200 yard freestyle relay win.

The men finished off strong as well with a victory of 213-98. Senior Janko Radmanovic won the 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle, and 200 yard individual medley while Senior Ben Rath won the 500 yard freestyle.

Senior Corrina Talamo says the night was a success.

“I think Senior Night went really well, it was really successful,” said Talamo. “It was a very fun night, I’m going to miss my teammates.”

While both teams compiled victories against the Dragons, the women’s team went on to make history. The “Women of the Waters” were the first team in program history to have an undefeated record at home. These victories came against Tiffin University, Saginaw Valley State University, Ashland University, Wayne State, Lewis University, and Hillsdale College. The women’s victory over Wayne State also marked the first time in program history the Oilers were triumphant over the Wayne State Warriors.

As the regular season comes to an end, both the men’s and women’s swim and dive teams will begin their preparation for the four-day GMAC competition. The conference championship will take place Feb. 14-17 in Canton, Oh. There are multiple swimmers on the team looking to take home a conference title, in addition to bringing home a team title to Findlay.

With postseason coming in roughly two weeks, the swimmers have their eyes on the prize.

UF Swim & Dive team travel to Florida

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By: Olivia Wile
Twitter: o_wile
Email: wileo@findlay.edu

Despite the conclusion of another fall semester at the University of Findlay, winter break is really no time to take a vacation from competitive swimming.

While the UF men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams’ recent trip to Boca Raton, Fla. may have seemed like a vacation, it was far from it. In fact, our team completed our highest volume of training during this week.

Although it meant returning to campus early, we were pretty excited for training trip this year. We left from the Detroit airport on Thursday, Dec. 28 and returned to Findlay the next Saturday.

We spent most of the week at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, swimming twice a day on most days as well as lifting. We also went on a few fun team trips including a visit to Deerfield Beach on New Years Eve and Boomers On New Years day. At Boomers our team enjoyed mini golf, go-carts, arcade games, and laser tag. We also spent an afternoon in Fort Lauderdale as well as enjoyed a cookout at the beach.

As this is the sixth consecutive time the Oiler swimming and diving teams have taken a winter training trip, Head Coach Andrew Makepeace explains why it is such an important part of our program.

“The biggest reason is just to train in a tropical location and build team chemistry,” Makepeace said. “You’re able to focus solely on training and enjoying time with teammates.”

Makepeace also explains that training in the same place the entire year can become redundant.

“Some people don’t know that training at your home facility can get real bad, real fast,” he said. “People get upset, there’s a lot of animosity.”

As exhausting as it was, I believe that our training trip helped our team improve both in and out of the water. I believe that any form of team bonding can contribute to the chemistry of that group.

The article “Accidental Tourists: The Benefits of Training Trips” quotes the University of Tennessee Women’s Coach Matt Kredich in emphasizing why such trips are so beneficial.

“Whether down south, off shore or overseas, swim training trips are designed to improve team unity, confidence, individual skill level and fitness,” said Kredich.

So as painful as the 10 x 100’s off the blocks in long course meters were, I am most likely going to remember the way my team rallied around each other to finish the set rather than the lactic acid built up in my muscles. Not to mention the scene of my teammates shivering and running around the pool deck for warmth as we were practicing in about 50 degree weather from eight to ten at night.

After completing my second training trip with the team, I am thankful for another great experience in Florida and am already eager to see what next year will bring.

UF Swimming and Diving teams improve ranking and records

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By: Dylan DeWitt
Twitter: @dd_witt
Email:dewittd@findlay.edu

The Oiler Swimming and Diving teams have begun the season by making history and doing it with quite a splash. The men’s and women’s teams have put together a year of tremendous accomplishments over the past month, including setting 10 new school records this past weekend at the Calvin Winter Invitational in Grand Rapids, Mi.

Whether national rankings, Great Midwest Swimmer of the Week awards, or sweeping Ashland’s program for the first time ever, the teams are making the most of their opportunities. The early success of the women’s team has earned them a ranking of 19 according to Collegeswimming.com, with the men ranked at 23.

On the women’s side, records and accomplishments have been nothing out of the ordinary. Junior Amanda Stiegel became the first ever National Swimmer of the Week for the Oiler’s program. Stiegel also broke the 200 yard freestyle record and teamed up with Emma Barnes, Julia Snell, and Ashton Klopp to break the 800 yard freestyle relay record this weekend at the Calvin Winter Invitational in Grand Rapids, Mi. The previous mark was set in 2015. The team also set a new 400 yard freestyle record.

In other news, Sophomore Sydney Zimdars was able to etch her name on the record board with a program best swim in the 1650 yard freestyle by over four seconds. The women’s team has also had a Great Midwest Swimmer of the Week in Sophomore Hanna Cedarholm this November.

On the men’s side, records and awards have been coming the Oilers way all season. Senior Janko Radmanovic has made another strong impact in the water this year. Along with being named Great Midwest Swimmer of the Week four times, and National Swimmer of the Week, he has helped break new records as well as his own. Radmanovic recently broke the program records for the 100 and 200 yard freestyle events, and teamed up with Ben Rath, Mark Bilieaud, and Trae Gulgin to set a record in the 800 yard freestyle. The 200 and 400 freestyle relay, and 200 medley relay records were also broken this weekend.

The teams are gearing up for their training trip in Boca Raton, Fl. during winter break, and will continue to compete on the road until Friday, Jan. 19 when they host Wayne State at home.

The Oiler Swimming and Diving teams are not only claiming victories, but also rewriting the records board as well. With the continuation of success, the Oilers will look primed and ready for Championship Season.

Injuries are inevitable

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By: Olivia Wile
Twitter: o_wile
Email: wileo@findlay.edu

As I have been competitively swimming for the last nine years, it is without surprise that I have experienced a lot of pain; both good and bad.

This is to be expected with any athlete, as we spend hours on hours conditioning, lifting, and practicing our skills. Although soreness is pretty much accustomed, it becomes a problem when pain goes beyond just muscle aches and fatigue.

Personally, I have been no stranger to injuries. During the eighth grade, I was diagnosed with Patellofemoral Syndrome. While during my junior year of high school I battled my first back injury. Fortunately, both of these injuries only took about six to eight weeks of rest and rehab to overcome. I cannot say the same now.

Last year, about four months into my freshman swim season, I reinjured my back. It turned out to be the same diagnosis from two years prior. Long story short, I have a tethered spinal cord, a rare genetic condition, and suffer from S.I. Joint Dysfunction.

With the help of prednisone, an oral steroid, cortisone shots, and limited physical therapy, I tried to manage my way through the season. After it was over, I stopped swimming in February, and now, in October, am still not 100%.

While spending my fair share of time in the athletic training room in Croy, I am around when plenty of other athletes go through rehab as well. Whether their injuries are long term or short term, the majority seems to have a similar goal in common: recovery.

When I asked Fiona Hanks, our head athletic trainer at UF, how college athletes typically respond to such adversity, I was surprised to learn that not everyone is the same.

“A lot of people I come into contact with are on scholarship. It tells the average person two things: one, they’re good at their sport, and two they are getting paid to participate,” Hanks said. “So yes, you do find that most athletes that are on our teams want to work very hard to get back, don’t like being injured, and will do what they physically can to get better.”

When it comes to recovery, however, Hanks says that the circumstances among athletes vary.

“Some people, like in your case, they want to do it, but their bodies can’t,” Hanks said.
Although injuries can be extremely discouraging, I do believe they can play a substantial role in improving both mental and physical strength. It was not until I hurt my back for the first time that I realized how much I loved swimming and wanted to continue in college.

In battling my injury, I have developed both thicker skin, and a deeper appreciation for swimming. As I am still recovering today, I truly appreciate every chance I get to spend near, or in the water. Although my injury will likely be one I struggle with the rest of my life, it is not one I will ever give into.