Spring Break
Column: Eastern swim team turns season around
Neil Schneider / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Sports
With three consecutive victories, the Eastern Illinois men's and women's swimming teams have begun to turn their season around.
After starting the year off with wins against Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis, both squads lost five consecutive dual meets, but as Eastern coach Matt Bos said, the team never lost its competitive nature.
"We were going up against really solid teams, but throughout those meets that we lost we continued to swim competitively," Bos said. "We were still swimming season best times during those meets and you could see the progress that was being made. We had opportunities to win those early meets but we just didn't finish."
Both swim squads have a combined 4-5 dual meet record of 2-1 at home and 2-4 away. The dual meet swimming streak began against IUPUI and followed with wins against Milikin and Valparaiso.
Bos said in the past three meets he has noticed that the teams have grown with confidence and that this is the perfect time in the season for the Eastern squads to start swimming their best.
"Even with the losses we had in meets, I noticed that the (Panther) squads were beginning to gain confidence in their swimming abilities," Bos said. "Of course with winning, that brings your confidence out more, so it's good that we are doing this right now with our conference championship meet."
Bos said it was important to be swimming their best times going into the Summit League Championship that takes place on Feb. 19.
He also said this time of the year is mainly focused on swimming the best they can in all events. Both squads are trying to rest as much as possible, while still trying to work on the little techniques that can help improve their swim times.
This Saturday presents another chance for both teams to continue their winning streaks with home meets at Ray Padovan Pool against Saint Louis.
Neil Schneider can be reached at 581-7944 or at jnschneider@eiu.edu.
After starting the year off with wins against Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis, both squads lost five consecutive dual meets, but as Eastern coach Matt Bos said, the team never lost its competitive nature.
"We were going up against really solid teams, but throughout those meets that we lost we continued to swim competitively," Bos said. "We were still swimming season best times during those meets and you could see the progress that was being made. We had opportunities to win those early meets but we just didn't finish."
Both swim squads have a combined 4-5 dual meet record of 2-1 at home and 2-4 away. The dual meet swimming streak began against IUPUI and followed with wins against Milikin and Valparaiso.
Bos said in the past three meets he has noticed that the teams have grown with confidence and that this is the perfect time in the season for the Eastern squads to start swimming their best.
"Even with the losses we had in meets, I noticed that the (Panther) squads were beginning to gain confidence in their swimming abilities," Bos said. "Of course with winning, that brings your confidence out more, so it's good that we are doing this right now with our conference championship meet."
Bos said it was important to be swimming their best times going into the Summit League Championship that takes place on Feb. 19.
He also said this time of the year is mainly focused on swimming the best they can in all events. Both squads are trying to rest as much as possible, while still trying to work on the little techniques that can help improve their swim times.
This Saturday presents another chance for both teams to continue their winning streaks with home meets at Ray Padovan Pool against Saint Louis.
Neil Schneider can be reached at 581-7944 or at jnschneider@eiu.edu.
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