Issue date: 11/5/08 Section: Sports

The Eastern men's swim team is led by five seniors who help the younger members aspire to set individual and team goals. (Amir Prellberg / The Daily Eastern News)

Senior roommates Joe Ethington and Elliott McGill are both leaders on the Eastern men's swimming team and are both responsible for setting an example for their younger teammates to follow.

"At the pool, us seniors have an expectation to always perform our best and set an example for the younger guys," McGill said. "They'll watch us swim, and they feed off of us."

Ethington said the seniors have a distinct responsibility of being leaders at meets. Other seniors on Eastern's men's swimming team include Pat LeNeave, Jason Maurer and Thomas Showers.

"As seniors, we're kind of the responsible leaders on deck at meets that cheer on our teammates and raise and keep the morale up," Ethington said.

Ethington said he has individual and team goals he would like to accomplish during his senior year.

"My individual goals are to help break the record for the (800-yard) relay at Eastern and to medal in the (200-yard freestyle) and score as many points as I can," said Ethington. "As a team, we want to get a third at conference and have a overall record of .500 or better at our dual meets."

McGill said his main goal is to just be the best leader he can be.

"My goals are to have my lifetime best times at conference and just try to be a good teammate of all the guys and girls," he said. "I just want to try and be a good leader when asked upon and do what coach says."

Ethington and McGill are always around each other and not just because they are roommates. The two also have the exact same swimming schedule. Both McGill and Ethington swim the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle, and both are also part of the Panthers' 800-yard freestyle relay.

Because of their class schedules, McGill and Ethington are also usually the only seniors at the 2 p.m. practice. Ethington said he enjoys leading practices with McGill because they both help make each other work hard.

"As seniors, we both lead the lanes, keep an eye at everyone's times," he said. "Instead of taking it easy and just getting our sets over with, we'll push ourselves to our limit. When's Elliot is having a bad day, I'll be out there in front of him pushing him to get ahead of me and the same goes vice versa."

McGill said being around Ethington has helped him become a better swimmer.

"We have mutual respect for each other inside and outside the pool," McGill said. "Living with each other gives us a chance to motivate each other and help each other improve and get ready for meets."

Ari Horing can be reached at 581-7944 or at akhoring@eiu.edu.

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