This past weekend, All-American Ben Byers ’07 showed why he is one of the top swimmers in the NESCACs with his performance at the conference tournament. Not only did Byers repeat as NESCAC champion in the 1000 yard freestyle, but he also finished second in the 1650 free and placed third in the 500 free to pick up three top three finishes.
Byers will compete in the NCAA Tournament at the University of Minnesota on March 16-18. I recently had a chance to catch up with Ben to get his views on his performance over the weekend.
VIJAY CHAUDHURI: Talk about your mentality and your mindset going into the NESCAC tournament.
BEN BYERS: We had a lot of team goals and we were more focused on those. I knew I was having close races, I knew I already had my national cut so I didn’t have to worry about that as much. We improved as a team. Personally I was ready to swim fast and it didn’t go as well as I wanted to but I had some good swims and races. I was excited, mostly.
VC: You were able to post successful results with 3 All-NESCAC performances, but just missed beating Williams All-American Steven Spinelli. Were you satisfied overall with your performances?
BB: Honestly I didn’t perform as well as I should have. I’ve had a down year and I came in ranked second and ended up third, won the 1000 but none of the top swimmers swam in the tournament. Most of them chose the 200 free instead. The mile competition wasn’t a good swim by Steve or myself. We raced 1500 yards next to each other, after every breath we would stare at each other. It turned into a game of chicken, neither of us hit our pace, and we were all over the place. He picked his moment to hit his break better than I did and took off, by the time I realized it I couldn’t catch him.
VC: What would it mean to have a rematch against him at nationals and come out on top?
BB: I’m pumped, honestly. It’s a wide open field in the mile. Neither of us is a favorite to win, but you cant count us out either. He’s ranked fourth and I’m fifth, we’ll both be swimming at night, head to head Every time we race we know each other is there. It’ll be a lot of fun
VC: What has been your most memorable athletic moment at Wesleyan?
BB: Sophomore year, at a meet at Bowdoin against Bowdoin and Colby. We were losing going into the final five events. Earlier, Rob Mitchell and I won the 500, Jeff Stein got second in the breaststroke. To win the event we had to win the 200 IM and win the 200 free relay. I won the first 200, and our team of Tom Cleveland, John Haley, Josh Tanz, and Dan Devine won the second. It was a great moment because the whole team came together and everyone swam fantastically, it was intense and a perfect swim. It was great to get back on the bus and realize that we performed as well as we could.
VC: After Nationals, you’re going to have tons of spare time. What do you plan to do with yourself?
BB: I’m going to play a little spring polo, and go up to a tourny at Amherst. Then I’ll be drinking as much as we can (Editors note: Ben means drinking Hi-C). I turn 21 a week after spring break ends and it’ll be a great spring. I’ll be spending time on the hill and getting my grades back up.
VC: What three words characterize the swim team.
BB: Dedication, determination and camaraderie. We are always there for each other and stick up for each other and work our asses off.
VC: Tell us something that the average reader wouldn’t know about the swim team. Any scandalous behavior?
BB: Like on any swim team, there’s a lot of swimfest. We spend a lot of time with each other and inevitably there are a lot of team hook ups.
VC: Any names?
BB: I think we’ll go with no comment on that one. We have a party called the kissing party, where everyone hooks up with everyone else. Put together any two names and you’ll be right.
VC: Have you played a big role in them?
BB: Yeah, they’re fun (laughing). It’s important to note that it’s a co-ed team.
VC: Which swimmer knows how to party the hardest. Word on the street is it might be Eric Altneu ’07.
BB: Definitely not. It would be Dan Devine. Closely followed by John Haley.
VC: What’s up with Eric?
BB: He talks a big game. We had a party after NESCACs where he helped set up but failed to attend.
VC: If you could be any other swimmer on the team for a day, who would it be and why ?
BB: Interesting question, (pause) who would I be? Who does absolutely nothing and just drinks all day? This is a tough one. Oh, I’d be Stephanie Lasby. Just because I want to play with her boobs all day.
VC: Lets say theoretically you were stuck on a raft in the Wesleyan pool for a whole week and you had to pick one person on the swim team to be there with. Who would it be and why?
BB: I’d bring Will Hasty. I’d get hungry and he’s the fattest.
VC: Any predictions at Nationals?
BB: I’m hoping for a top three finish in the mile, and finish top 16 in the 500 free.
VC: Anything to do in Minnesota?
BB: God I hope so. Curling is pretty big there.
VC: You going to take any lessons?
BB: It got pretty popular. The women’s curling team was blazing. Maybe they can teach me something.
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