Issue date: 12/2/08 Section: Sports

Senior Brent Noble, who swims the breaststroke and individual medley, has posted the team best times in the 200-yard IM (2 minutes, 1.17 seconds), the 400-yard IM (4:21.40) and 500-yard freestyle (4:58.45) this season. Noble enjoys exercising with biking and running in his free time and hopes to open his own gym after graduation. (Eric Hiltner | Daily Eastern News)

Senior Brent Noble has been a force for the Panthers the past four seasons as a member of Eastern's men's swimming team. The Terre Haute, Ind., native was one of the team's top swimmers in the individual medley and breaststroke events last season. Noble recently sat down with Assistant Sports Editor Dan Cusack to talk about his goals for the season, his favorite team and why he is growing a beard.


What's with the beard in the picture (right)?

Most of our team did "No Shave November" this year. It was something fun to do, and I am going to go ahead and shave it off Friday.

It was just something fun we did. I am not going to miss it at all.

It's disgusting.


What are your goals for this season?

To get third in the conference as a team is really the biggest goal for all of us.

I have individual time goals, and I would also like to medal at a few things in conference.


What can your team accomplish this year?

I think we can accomplish a whole lot. We have got a great work ethic this year as a whole, and I think third place or even second place at conference is very realistic.


What are the biggest changes with your new coaches?

I think we are just expected more day in and day out now. I think there is more intensity in yardage in the water, and people are really responding to that and working really hard.


What has been your biggest sports accomplishment?

Swimming for a fourth year on a college swim team really.

I think there's not a whole lot of people that do that, so anyone that does, I think that is a big accomplishment.


Who has been the biggest influence in your career?

I think it is really a big mixture.

I think the single person would have to be my high school coach because he coached me year round for about seven years, but really there are lots and lots of huge influences.

My family has been a huge influence and all the coaches and teammates I have had throughout the years.


What is on your iPod right now?

I really don't listen to music that much. I don't even have an iPod.

I listen to a Christian radio station when I drive, but listening to music is not a pastime of mine.


What is your favorite thing to do besides swimming?

I would have to say exercising like running or biking or just lounging around.

Just hanging out.


What is your favorite non-sports moment at Eastern?

There are just so many with all of the good friends that I have made through the swim team and outside of the swim team. I can't really just think of one non-swimming moment.

Just the three-and-a-half years so far with this team and everything.


What are your plans after graduation?

I'm an exercise science major. I plan on going to grad school immediately after.

I have a few goals after that.

Possibly teaching, running my own gym or coaching at the college level are three things I'd like to do.


What athletes did you looked up to growing up?

The high school swim teams in my town, I always really looked up to because I used to practice right after them. Also, I was a huge Mark Grace fan when I was a kid, and I just think he's a good guy and a great athlete. I always liked Charles Barkley because everyone around me was a big Bulls fan and he always played them.


Who is your favorite sports team?

The Chicago Cubs. My grandpa has always been a huge Cubs fan, and that's always what I kind of grew up around when I was young. I just always liked the Cubs.


Do you think they will win the World Series?

Someday, someday. I was hoping this year, but maybe sometime soon. They have a good team.


What is your favorite event to swim?

The (200-yard) individual medley is my favorite event. It combines all four strokes, and it is actually the event I have had the most success with so far this season. To me, it is a true test of versatility and what kind of swimmer you really are.


What are you going to miss most about Eastern?

Definitely the team and just the friends I have made here.


Do you like the improvements made to the pool?

I think it looks good. There are still some more things to be made. It's definitely a big step. Aesthetics is not a huge deal to me, but it looks fine.


Do you think you can break Michael Phelps records?

No. Definitely not. That's a whole different class of athlete right there. He is nuts.

That's something that is someone who is a once in a lifetime sort of guy, and I'm just happy he capitalized on the skills he's got.


Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.

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