GEORGETOWN, Texas – On Friday, October 30th, exactly seven months and ten days after SU had their first ever participant at the NCAA Championships, the Southwestern men’s and women’s swimming teams will dive into action and look to shatter records and set new standards for the Southwestern swim program.

Under the guidance of first-year coach Dan Carrington the Pirates seem to have a new found drive in the water. The swimmers have already seen their hard work turn into fast times in the pool at the Black and Gold inter-squad meet.

“The team started off the season with a great Black and Gold meet,” reflects Coach Carrington. “The swims were much better than the team anticipated and it has improved attitudes significantly.”

Coach Carrington brings new tactics to the swimmers and program and hopes that the new training will jump start the already competitive athletes. “The training seems to be slightly different than what the team has experienced in the past, however the response is very positive. As the training continues it has built confidence which I hope continues through our meets.”

The women return six from last year’s team that finished sixth at the SCAC Championships in 2008-09. Leading the way is junior Bailey Thompson who won the 200 yard backstroke for the first time in school history. Coach Carrington has added four talented women to the mix and will be poised to make a jump in the standings this year.

The men’s team is composed of five returners and four first-years add depth to the program. Senior Jon LaRochelle will set the tone for the Pirates and look to lead the men’s team to huge jumps throughout the season. Sophomore Evan Firth aims to build off his stellar first season in the water. Firth came in fifth in the 200 butterfly and was a part of the 200 freestyle relay team that along with returner junior John Prater came in seventh at the SCAC Championships.

“This team is going to turn some heads including their own,” states Coach Carrington. “As the confidence continues to rise times will improve and so will the team's placing. When we get to the SCAC Championships there will be lots of great swims. We may be small in numbers but intelligence and heart will carry us a long way.”

Southwestern opens the season at the 42nd Annual Hendrix Swimming Classic. They remain on the road until January 23rd when they play host to the University of Incarnate Word.