For the first time, the Saint Vincent College women’s swim team has attained an undefeated Presidents’ Athletic Conference season.
Their latest victory over PAC rival Westminster College with a score of 182-112 at the Resnik Pool on Jan. 27, according to the athletic website, ensured that their winning streak will remain unbeaten.
Josh Gurekovich, head swim coach, elaborated on the team’s accomplishment.
“The team has worked extremely hard all season in the pool and weight room with Coach Bell. They have pushed each other to become better swimmers and athletes all year, and it has really paid off so far,” Gurekovich said.
Gurekovich also spoke of the team’s practice schedules. All swimmer attend at least six two-hour long practices a week in the water, plus two weight training days a week.
“This keeps them in pretty good shape and ready to race hard every weekend,” he said.
Due to long seasons, Gurekovich said it is important to keep up morale.
At practice, coaches play music and allow free time to talk between sets.
“The swim season tends to be very long. We dove in together for our first practice on Sept. 25 and have been training together ever since with a short break between semesters. Throughout the year, we try to give them little goals to achieve each week. This helps keep each individual motivated, so they can see themselves getting better throughout the season,” Gurekovich said.
Nicolette Smith, sophomore English major and member of the women’s swim team, said that she is ecstatic about their undefeated season.
“At the beginning of the season, the women's team had a meeting where we discussed our goal to be undefeated this season,” Smith said. “Each swim meet, we raced to our best ability and it shows how hard we have worked this season. I think I speak for all the girls when I say that all the hard work has paid off to bring about the first undefeated PAC season.”
Smith swims in Butterfly and IM events such as the 400 and 200 IM and the 100 Butterfly.
In addition to their PAC victories, the women’s swim team also defeated Penn State Behrend women's swimming and diving team 156-88 at the Junker Center in Erie on Feb. 3 in a non-conference meet that closed out Saint Vincent’s regular swim season.
The team will return to compete Feb. 15 to 17 at the final conference meet in Grove City to close out the PAC season.
“We have had so many great swims this year and amazing meets by everyone on the team,” Gurekovich said. “I think our captains Gianna Boburka and Ciara Lewis have done a fantastic job getting these women motivated and confident each week we had a meet. The biggest goal for our team is to win the conference meet in two weeks. […] It is truly what we have been training for since September.”
Photos: SVC Athletics