IWU Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive Undergo New Coaching Changes

The start of the 2024-2025 Swim and Dive season brought many changes, including the Men’s and Women’s teams combined under one coaching staff.

Coach Steven Wolcott has taken the position of Head Coach. Wolcott was named the Mid-South Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in the 2023-2024 season. 

“Overall, we are still a very young team, even on the woman’s side that’s been around that bit longer,” Wolcott said.

Having a combined team, coach and players say it functions more like a typical team.

“I’m sure it’s been a big hassle, especially for the coaches to handle,” team captain Nate Kryder said. “But it’s great to be together as one.”

Kryder serves as team captain alongside serves Grant Brown, Sidney Campbell, and Olivia Vanderlaan.

“This year, we’re a lot more connected,” Kryder said. “[We’re] actually talking about each other’s days.”

Fabrizzio Sandoval-Salinas, a sophomore from Arequipa, Peru, has felt the newfound family with the merge.

“We’re a family right now. We got many things and stories to share,” Sandoval said. “The 2024- 2025 season is going to be awesome.” 

Last season, all men’s records but one were broken, along with 12 women’s. Coach Wolcott believes more can be broken. 

“With who we have coming back and who we’re bringing in, I think it’s definitely within the realm of possibilities that we can get a clean sweep of that [record] board again,” Wolcott said.

Outside team records, IWU Men’s Swim and Dive looks forward to creating a national showing for the first time. 

“I want our national presence to continue this year and to show that we are a school that shows on the national stage,” Wolcott said. 

The program continues to grow in new equipment added and in numbers, while more is planned to come because of both team’s successes. Coach Wolcott believes their success thus far is a testament to their work. 

“We just need to be blessed every day and swim with heart every day, and we’ll be in the place that we want to be,” Sandoval said. 

The Women’s Swim and Dive team finished first at the Lindsey Wilson Fall Frenzy to kick off the season, while the Men’s Swim and Dive team placed third. 

Both Wildcat teams are back in action on Oct. 5 in a Senior Day Tri-Meet against Hillsdale College and Campbellsville University for their only home meet of the season.