Swimming team looking to continue their successful season

Coming into the 2011-2012 season, the Purple Knights set goals to maintain and new goals to achieve.

Hoping to make a second consecutive appearance at the National Championship; the Purple Knights have been training relentlessly since September. With their season coming to a close, both teams have been able to look back at what they consider a very successful season.

Both programs have been working nonstop, not just in the pool; but additionally, in the classroom.

"We have some basic goals year in and year out," head coach Brad Flood said. "Those are for both teams to be Scholar All-America through the College Swim Coaches Association".

The Purple Knights achieved this honor as both teams finished with a grade point average above 3.0.  The men finished with a 3.18, followed closely by the women at 3.17.

Their hard academic work has been accompanied by their tough training in the water.

Throughout the season the two teams have been posting numerous qualifying times for the National Championship and have become more determined to make an impact for their team.

"We have been getting better and better and are looking to do some serious work with our two biggest meets coming up," freshman Vladislav Paskas said.

Even though this season hasn't always been easy for them, the Purple Knights feel confident heading into the conference championship in just a few weeks.

"There might be days where we feel weak or tired, but with the support of teammates and the coaches we have always been able to keep our focus and we know we will be able to accomplish anything," women's captain Maris Visse said.

The next few weeks will prove to be the team's toughest yet as they continue to train in aims of achieving many personal and group goals.

"The goal of each swimmer is not to have a perfect score every meet; but to be fast at the right time," Visse said. "The right time for the team is at conference and at nationals."

The Purple Knights will head into the conference championship hoping to overcome an old opponent The College of New Jersey.

"We have certainly put in the work and we have posted up times that have put definitely put us in a position to move forward," Flood said.