After preparing for the start of the swim season for the entire fall term, the men and women’s swim team will have their first meet against St. Ambrose in Davenport on Oct. 27.
Before the workouts started, both teams set clear goals for the season. Senior captain Sara Hovren said,
“As a whole team, we actually broke off into just the women and men’s teams to create individual and team goals. Last year we also did this and one of our women’s team goals was to get the team award for Academic All-American, which we got! So this year I think the women’s team really want’s to keep our team GPA up so we can get the award again. Individually, I am working towards breaking the Augustana record for the 100 Breaststroke which is about a second away from the fastest time I went at conference during a relay.”
Senior captain, Kristin Schoenecker, says the teams has also been training every day with intensive workouts to prepare for the first official meet.
“We have been preparing since the first day of school, when optional open practices started. A couple of weeks before our real practices started, we also had captain’s practices, to start preparing for the brunt of the season.  Since week 6, we’ve been having two practices a day for four days of the week and one practice a day twice a week.  These practices include swimming, weights, and running workouts,” Schoenecker said.
Last year both teams ended the season with a 3-1 record. Looking back at last year’s results Hovren has personal goals she’d like to accomplish this year.
“Last year, I ended up having a really great season even though I was gone during the first 5 weeks on a study away program in Denver. I attribute that to putting in that hard work to get back into shape after being gone and keeping healthy mentally and physically, and focusing on having a positive attitude in and out of the water. I want to keep that attitude going into this year even though senior year can be a little challenging with senior projects and future plans.”
Schoenecker has goals set for herself as well and plans to get a feel for her typical swimming events at the St. Ambrose meet stating,
“For the St. Ambrose meet, I’d say my only goal is to see where I am at since it is the first meet of the season.  I’ll be swimming in events that I’ll be doing for most of the season, so this meet will give me a baseline to start from.”
Schoenecker has high expectations for this year’s swim season, especially since she is a senior, hoping to make this her’s and the team’s best season.
“I look forward to bonding with my team for one last season before I graduate.  I hope that my class helps to leave a legacy of excellence and commitment for future generations of Augie swimmers.”
Junior swimmer, Luke Herron, while not being able to compete because of study abroad, is still rooting for the team while traveling in Brazil. Herron said,
“I will say that I am looking forward to seeing the team grow as in dynamic and in numbers. This year is a small glimpse of what Augustana swimming will be like in the future.”