Monmouth swimmers charger to the finish line 

By: Mike Wozniak
Contributing Writer

The Monmouth Men’s and Women’s Swimming team has had a lot of positive growth since its inception in 2004. This season has statistically been the Scots’ best season yet and looks to conclude on a high note. Both the men and women can be expected to make some noise at the conference meet as they close out the year. Both teams are coached by head coach Keith Crawford.

In their first meet after the lengthy winter break, the swim team welcomed Augustana College to the Pepper Natatorium. Again, the men defended their home deck defeating Augustana handily, 141-115. As for the women, their small numbers got the best of them. Despite a valiant effort, the team was not able to edge out a victory over the visitors from Augie. The Scots fell, 81-164.

While the rest of us were enjoying our winter breaks, the swim team returned to Monmouth early to compete in two separate meets. On Saturday, Jan. 3, the Scots had their inaugural meet of 2007 in the natatorium located in Monmouth’s Huff Athletic Center. The Scots invited Principia College into the pool and both the Scots’ men and women teams swam away with victories. Then, on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12-13, the team traveled to Grinnell College Invitational.

At the nine team invitational, the men put in a strong effort, placing third. The women again showed strong and were able to place ninth in the 12 team field. Scots returned home from the invite with just three meets remaining on their schedule, two of which were in their own Pepper Natitorium.

For the women, their win over Principia was their first meet victory of the 2006-2007 season. Despite their lack of high placements, this small team has put together a big performance in the current season. The ladies out-worked and out-swam the Principia squad, thanks to the endurance and strength they had gained over the long season.

As for the men, they continued the success they had been experiencing since the beginning of the season. The men won the meet in dominating fashion, defeating Principia 159-73.

The men have had a very impressing year, winning all of their dual meets and placed in the top half of the standing in all of the other meets. Impressive highlights include a huge win of the Monmouth College Invitational by over 280 points. This success can be attributed to both the teams “star power” and by their depth. “The men are better and much deeper than a year ago,” said Crawford. “Our biggest strength will be our collective depth. Of the 16 guys, every single one of them should be able to score at the conference meet. If they can all score in all three of their events, those points add up in a hurry. We have ‘star power,’ but the depth we have wins meets for us.”

Conference should prove to be very challenging for the men. The team would like to finish second in the meet. They feel that they can contend for the conference championship in the relays and they have the potential for multiple conference champions. “There is still a large gap between what we have done and our potential,” said Crawford. “Regardless of the standings at the end of the meet the hope is every one set new personal bests.”

On the women’s side, size does matter. With only nine athletes on the roster, getting sufficient depth becomes a pressing issue. This becomes a huge obstacle in dual meets where the team struggles due to the lack of rest between events. They have had successful showings at larger meets because the lack of depth becomes less of a factor. The 2007 Conference Meet will be an important proving ground for the women. “They have the potential to finish in the top half of the conference and if everything goes perfectly they have the potential to get third, which would be amazing,” said Crawford.

On Friday, Jan. 26, the team will host its final dual meet of the 2006-2007 seasons. Coe College will be welcomed to Monmouth’s Huff Athletic Center on Friday at 7 a.m. This will be the teams’ final meet of the year before they travel to the 2007 Midwest Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.

The 2007 Midwest Conference Swimming and Diving Championships will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 9-11. They will be hosted by Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. Come out and support the team.