Over the past 14 years winning has become not a goal but an expectation for the Geneseo swimming and diving team. The men’s side has won every SUNYAC championship over that span and the women have won 10, including the last five in a row.
This season presents a unique challenge for the men’s team. Eight seniors graduated from last year’s squad, which forces Blue Wave to transition from a veteran team to one with as many freshmen as there are sophomores, juniors and seniors, according to head coach Paul Dotterweich.
Dotterweich said he’s looking for not only the seniors but also the juniors and sophomores on the team to step up and provide leadership for the freshmen.
Dotterweich said that while he usually tries to avoid putting too much pressure on first-year students, he is forced to do so this year. He said he needs “all of [the freshmen] to come in and perform at their best or improve.”
Several of the freshman swimmers have previously recorded times near Geneseo’s school and conference record marks.
“They’re the underdog this year … [but] nobody wants that [championship] streak to go down on their watch,” Dotterweich said.
In contrast to the men, the women’s team graduated two seniors from last year’s team.
“On paper [they] were the best team in the conference,” Dotterweich said.
Senior Elyssa Max, junior Lily Powell and sophomores Abby Max and Haleigh Wixson will all look to reach the NCAA championships again, while senior Kaitlin Wilcoxen will try to repeat her All-SUNYAC first-team performance.
Blue Wave opens its season Nov. 3 against SUNY Fredonia in the Geneseo Alumni Pool House.