As the fall sports season starts to conclude, the excitement around winter sports begins to ramp up. The Gustavus men’s and women’s swimmers and divers have been hard at work in the pool for weeks preparing for the 2017-2018 season, and their preseason training has resulted in much earlier season success thus far.

“The team is off to a great start. The training has been outstanding so far. I love the progress we have made to this point in the season. We will work hard to keep building on the base we’ve established,” Head Coach Jon Carlson said. Carlson is in his 28th season as head coach of both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams here at Gustavus. As the seasons accumulate and change, one thing does not, however. The goal for the team is always a MIAC Championship.

“Our goal is to always win the MIAC Championship. We are definitely the underdogs going into this year, but we’ll work hard to have everyone improve and compete hard at the end of the year at our championship,” Carlson said. The current members of the team hold the same goal, as well.

“My goals for this season are to put a MIAC championship banner up and hopefully qualify for nationals,” Senior Kennedy Holwerda said.

Holwerda, who is in her final season of swimming here at Gustavus, hopes to end her career on a high note.

“Being a senior does give different feel to the season. We all are trying to leave our mark on the team before we go. We are trying to help build the team for years to come. I just want to enjoy every moment I have left with this team because it is my last year,” Holwerda said.

Holwerda also commented on how she is truly enjoying her last season here on the hill.

“I am very happy for how the season is going for the team. We are killing it at every practice and always trying to make ourselves better swimmers in and out of the water. Me personally, I am swimming better than I ever have,” Holwerda said.

The team’s successful practice habits are translating into success in competitions.

Most recently, both the men’s and women’s team hosted and swept St. Olaf. The men’s team won by a whopping margin of 215-77, and the women’s team defeated the Oles in a nail biter by a score of 168-131.

“The wins over St. Olaf for the men and the women were good, positive marking points for the rest of the season,” Carlson said. In the victory over St. Olaf, Junior Tanner Sonnek turned in a performance strong enough to earn him MIAC Men’s Swimmer of the Week honors. While Head Coach Carlson is very impressed by the outstanding performances that Sonnek and other top swimmers on the team have provided so far this season, he is also happy to see the entirety of the team stepping up this year.

“I think the key to our success is the number of teammates that have stepped up and stepped forward to perform at levels we didn’t expect,” Carlson said.

The Gustie swimmers compete next at the Grace Goblirsch Invitational right here at Gustavus this Saturday, November 18th. The team hopes to continue their early season success as they strive to add another MIAC Championship banner to the walls of Lund Center.