Shannon Welch/Photo Editor
With a first-year coach at the helm, a mixture of fresh faces and returners to the squad, and a newfound dedication to the cause, Wesleyan’s swimming program seems poised for rejuvenation.
The man in charge of the men’s and women’s swimming teams is Peter Solomon—a decorated swimming coach with 18 years of experience under his belt. He takes over a depleted squad, that had an interim coach at the helm last year, and hopes the team’s increased size and focus can lead to a stark turnaround. Solomon’s official title is Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving, as well as Adjunct Professor of Physical Education. The team has had three coaches in three years, and many involved with the program think Solomon can bring stability to the team and create a winning environment in the Wesleyan Natatorium for years to come.
Solomon started his head coaching career in Amherst, Mass., as the man in charge of the Lord Jeffs from 1993 until 1997. He traveled a few hours north to take the same position at Middlebury College for over a decade. During the two stints, Solomon achieved an undeniably impressive résumé. At Middlebury, the five-time NESCAC Coach of the Year accumulated a 71-45 dual meet record with his men, while his women proved even more successful with a 79-37 record. Even more, he coached his 2002 Middlebury squad to a NESCAC championship, and over his years at Middlebury has coached 64 NESCAC champions, 60 NCAA Division III All-Americans, and five NCAA Division III National Champions.
Though a new coach alone may be cause for excitement, the evidence pointing to a more successful swimming program does not end simply when leaving the head coach’s office. A mixture of youthful exuberance and talent coupled with returners to the program has many of the athletes excited for the possibilities to come. Notably, standout Russell Madison ’14 returns to the pool after a year’s absence with hopes of helping the team improve from its results last year. Adding to the mix is a large and talented freshman class for both men’s and women’s swimming, and the Cardinals expect to surprise many teams in the NESCAC.
More important than the talent and revamped rosters is a shift in attitude for Wesleyan’s swimmers. The men’s team grew from merely 12 swimmers to a solid 20 competitors on this year’s team. Equally as impressive, the women are now carrying 23 athletes on their roster.
Butterfly swimmer Jake Rosenbloom ’15 summed up the team’s sentiments nicely.
“I believe our large freshmen class brings with it the revitalizing size and energy needed to jump start our previously dwindling program,” he said.
The action kicks off for both the men’s and women’s teams against Bates College on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 3 p.m. in the Wesleyan Natatorium. Last year the Cardinal women went down to the Bobcats by a score of 69-124, while the men fared even worse, losing 55-138. The team hopes it can tap into this newfound energy and get the season off to a fast start with victories against their northern counterparts.