By Mikael Desanto
Staff Writer
The men’s swimming and diving team finished third out of seven schools at last weekend’s Zippy Invitational in Akron, Ohio. Oakland University finished in first and Bloomsburg University took second.
The Bonnies’ top performer was senior Michael Pilyugin, who won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke events. He also finished in second in the 200-yard backstroke.
Pilyugin’s 100-yard backstroke performance also set the pool and invitational records for the event.
The team also had finishes in the 200-yard breaststroke, with junior Michael White placing ninth and junior Matthew Goettler finishing in 11th. Freshmen Edward Donovan added to the team’s success with an eighth-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly.
“I was satisfied with my swims this past weekend,” Goettler said. “Being in the invitational setting allowed me to make sure I would be able to handle the duel session set up similar to A-10’s.”
However, despite seeing success at the invitational, the swimmers said they know they need to keep working headed into the rest of the year.
“There are many fine details that can go unnoticed that need attention in order to swim up to our potential at the end of the season, and now, we are going to have to focus in on those kinds of things more than ever,” Goettler said.
But Goettler also can see what will help the team continue to get better, he said.
“I think the team has been much closer as a whole this year than last, which helps a lot in the aspect of training,” Goettler said. “We need the support to make our program successful.”
The team will not have another meet until mid-January and will continue to train until then. Freshmen Brian Uhrin explained the teams’ plans for this long break.
“We, as a group, plan to train all break, and we are going on a training trip to Coco Beach, Florida, after the New Year,” Uhrin said.
Goettler said he knows how difficult this training will be for the team.
“The winter training trip is coming up shortly, and that’s where we get the remainder of our tough workouts done, so we will be grinding out some tough practices here shortly,” Goettler said.
The team knows what it needs to do to stay ready during break and prepare for the coming meets, swimmers said.
“You have to make sure that you give everything that you have during the breaks to get better in and out of the pool or your times won’t improve at all,” Uhrin said.
Goettler also sees the light at the end of the tunnel for the team’s season and said he knows what is important to making it there.
“We don’t get too comfortable with where we are at, in training aspects,” Goettler said. “We need to stay focused on the goal, and that’s A-10’s at the end.”
With the Atlantic 10 Championships, which take place in February, quickly approaching, the team knows what is most important to remember when preparing.
“I think something to keep in mind is that we have spent the whole year grinding,” Goettler said. “We don’t rest like most other programs do mid-season, so to look back and remember that we have put in the time to be successful is very important. Trust the training.”
