After tumultous year, swim team back to work

After the loss of its men's program last year to budget cuts, the Duquesne swim team has revamped its mindset in order to create a new, more positive atmosphere for the upcoming season."[The program has] a little more caring nature," coach Dave Sheets said. "Just dealing with one program, you kind of have an opportunity to get to know individual swimmers."


Sheets declined to comment on Duquesne's choice to cut the men's team, choosing instead to focus on the future.


"I just want to move forward with the women's team," Sheets said. "We're going to have a lot of opportunities for people to step up. We've got the athletes who can do it, it's just them developing themselves and us helping them to develop."


Part of his focus, he said, is to create an entirely new atmosphere for the team. This includes hanging inspirational posters in the locker room and stressing the importance of individual attitude and work ethic.


According to senior Kim Schade, Sheets' efforts have had his desired effect.


"This year, as opposed to last year, is awesome," Schade said. "Good morale starts with the seniors and kind of trickles down, which is how it should be. Last year, we had the boys who could kind of make light of things. Now other people have to step up."


Fellow senior Brianna Menges agreed.


"We do a lot of things to keep each other up," she said, citing team dinners and get-togethers as part of the effort. "During practices, we encourage each other. During difficult sets, we encourage each other."


The team needed this support during Saturday's intrasquad meet, when Sheets implemented part of his plan to improve the mental endurance of his team.


This event, the pentathlon, consisted of five 100-meter sprints: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle and individual medley. Each was on approximately eight minute's rest. The event as a whole was designed to push the swimmers' limits.


"I just wanted to try something different this year," Sheets said. "I wanted to see how mentally tough our swimmers are."

This set was especially difficult because, as part of the day's practice, each swimmer had to either run a 5k with the Third Alternative or swim with the team earlier that morning.


Sophomore Megan Hayles swam the event in 1.06.34 minutes, surprising Schade and her teammates with her speed.


"It's interesting to see everyone do strokes that they don't normally do," Schade said. "Some people are surprising us, like Megan Hayles in her 100 butterfly."


Hayles was ready for her chance to shine.


"That's what I trained in high school," Hayles said. "but I haven't swam it for awhile so I was excited for it. That's what did it I guess."


Hayles thought the pentathlon accomplished its goal of testing the swimmers.


"I like it. It's a little tough. I think people realize that even though you're tired you can still do it at the end," she said.


The team moves into weekly dual meets beginning the weekend of Oct. 22 against James Madison and Richmond.


"I think the schedule is a good opportunity for us to see where we stand," Sheets said. "I think it's a good opportunity for us to grow."


Sheets' optimism, and focus on team morale, has rubbed off on his swimmers.


"The swimming kind of takes care of itself when we're all happy," Schade said. "We care about each other more than we care about the swimming. Duquesne's very different that way.