Although this section is called “Players to Watch,” Chris Becker ’09 is one of the hardest Wesleyan athletes to see as he is the men’s swimming team’s top sprinter. Becker is coming off a solid season last year in which he finished in the top 16 in both his 50 and 100 freestyle events at the NESCAC Championships.
Standing at a towering 6’3” many students around campus confuse Becker for swimming sensation Michael Phelps. Although Becker had eight fewer gold medals this past year, he has been on an equivalent diet. Dan Storms ’10 claims that Becker can put down almost 12,000 calories a day during the NESCAC Championships, which has been invaluable to his success at the event.
Becker also competed in four relay events last year. He can be seen on the block for the 200 and 400 free and medley relays. The 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams of Becker, Mike Pepi ’08, Storms, and Jeff Stein ’08 last year broke both Wesleyan records set during the previous year’s NESCAC Championships. Becker’s teamwork has earned him the title of captain for this upcoming season. His teammates call him a difference maker and compare his motivational skills to those of Mike Ditka. He calls his huddles “town meetings” because of the important issues discussed and his openness where he allows all to speak.
With only two seniors graduating from the 2007-2008 team, Wesleyan men’s swimming and diving is poised to have one of its best seasons ever. Becker believes that he will get a strong output from his freshmen.
Also looking good this year is co-captain and diving extraordinaire David Wilkinson ’09. Wilkinson placed third on the one-meter boards last season at the NESCAC Championships.
The team will be in action this coming Saturday, Nov. 22 at Trinity with Bates. The first home meet will be December 6th and 7th for the Cardinal Invitational.
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