The Indiana Wesleyan University swim team competed in the Mid-South Conference Championships last weekend.
Both the girls’ and boys’ swim teams competed in Danville, Kentucky, against 6 other schools. The conference championship featured preliminary rounds followed by final rounds across individual and relay events. Points earned throughout the rounds determine the team standings and individual placements.
Assistant coach Livi Bell joined the staff this year after graduating from the IWU swim program three years ago and spoke prior to the competition.
“This week, the athletes are prepping their bodies to see what it would be like to swim at the next level of competition,” Bell said.
This team entered conference with a different roster makeup than last season, between graduating seniors last year and the freshman class of new young swimmers. Sophomore Cole Hively said the team has more depth this year with their individual medleys.
In describing the swim team’s preparation process, Hively said the training intensity has peaked in the days leading up to the conference, followed by a gradual taper. The taper allows swimmers’ bodies to recover while maintaining speed and intensity.
“It is ridiculously hard,” Hively said. “Then we start tapering down. It gives you time and allows you to swim as fast as you can.”
Senior Makenna Beall explained the conference championship as the focal point of the team’s entire season.
“It’s the biggest meet that we train for all year,” Beall said. “We’ve been training for it since we moved back in September. We’ve put in a lot of yards and a lot of hard work, and it will pay off.”
The women’s team finished second while the men’s team placed third in the conference championships and will now prep for the NAIA National Championships next month.
