Gardner-Webb Swimming Opens Practice for Upcoming Season
August 30, 2012 | Swimming
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Gardner-Webb's men's and women's swim teams held their first practice of the fall this week, opening what figures to be a promising season for head coach Mike Simpson and the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Much of the buzz surrounding the program is being generated by a crop of talented freshmen on both the men's and women's teams looking to add quality swimming to a strong veteran core.
"The basis for the excitement," said coach Simpson, "comes from the returners, who understand the quality of the newcomers we are bringing in. That speaks volumes to the direction the program is headed."
Not only are the teams adding a combined 19 student-athletes this season, GWU's men's and women's swim teams are bringing in a group which includes Junior National qualifiers, YMCA Nationals finalists, State Champions, All-Conference and All-Region performers, Sectionals finalists, Swimmers-of-the-Year and All-American competitors.
One GWU women's swimmer, senior Liz Van Halsema (Charlotte, N.C.), said, "When you have fast freshmen come in it can be intimidating, but it's a good thing. I'm able to learn from swimmers who have a fresh viewpoint in the sport. It keeps me motivated, and it makes me want to work harder and make the team that much better."
Junior Matt Anderson (Fortaleza, Brazil) also commented on what he views are exciting prospects for the upcoming season.
"The newcomers that have come in this season have changed the dynamic of the team, statistically with fast times and with how hard they work. Their day in, day out training has already stepped up how hard we work as a team.
"This is going to be a great year for Gardner-Webb swimming."
After recording fourth (women) and third (men) place finishes a season ago, Gardner-Webb swimming will seek to embrace a team-over-self approach as the squads look ahead to a successful 2012-13 campaign.
"The team slogan we've kind of adopted this year," said Coach Simpson, "comes from a book I read this summer: 'Nobody can do what everybody can do.' We have a huge freshmen class, they're going to add a lot. The challenge is integrating 19 newcomers and 2 new assistant coaches into what we're doing.
"We have good leadership on the team that will help with that integration," added coach Simpson.
Gardner-Webb swimming will participate in the Open Water Invitational on Saturday, September 15 in Shelby, N.C. in its first competition of the 2012-13 season.
