Norse return to dominance

The Luther College Men’s Swimming Team is no stranger to success. For the past six years, the Norse have been the Liberal Arts Champions, and have had the Men’s IIAC champion during the same span.

Last year, the Norse only sent one swimmer to Nationals, an oddity over the decade’s success. Many schools implemented New Generation swimming suits that increased a swimmer’s buoyancy and provided aero-dynamic compression. The Norse went without the suits.

Now that the New Generation suits have been banned from IIAC competition, the Norse can get back to what sets them apart; toughness, togetherness and sheer physical skill.

“Our training has been stepped up a bit from last year now that the “New Generation” suits are illegal,” Coach Lance Huber said. “The hard work that we do on a daily basis will pay off...which will lead to another amazing and successful season for both the swimmers and the divers.”

“Without the ‘Speed Suits’ available to anyone this year, it’s going to come down to who works the hardest, and so far our team is working harder than ever,” Co-Captain Carson Christen (‘10) said.

The payoff is already present in the beginning of what is essentially a yearlong season. The Norse have a 3-1 record, with the only loss coming to St. Cloud State, a division 2 program.

Part of the reason the Norse have had success is because of talent and hard work. The Norse practice twice daily while in season and have a reputation for enduring grueling practices.

“We do things in practice and outside the pool that no other team does. Luther Swimming & Diving is very unique to the sport, and many teams have heard or seen what we do and have started adapting their team structure to replicate ours,” Co-Captain Spencer Robbins (‘10) said.

Many swimmers also credit the team’s unity as a key to this season’s success.

“The most impressive aspect so far this year is the ability for this year’s team to overcome obstacles together,” Co-Captain Brad Foresman said. “Coach Huber has really been throwing some tough practices at us early this season and without the support from our teammates, we would not have pushed through them. I believe that our ability as a group to truly become a close family has been impressive.”

Before the season started, the team built their sense of unity by traveling to Cedar Rapids to help tear down and re-build houses for flood victims.

“We spent the weekend gutting homes that were damaged by flood,” Foresman said. “It was important for us to reach out and help others and it also allowed for our team to really come together as a group.”

“We instantly became a family after our first meeting,” Robbins said. “We developed a connection on our service project in Cedar Rapids helping with flood relief. It has been growing ever since.”

While the Norse have been the premier Liberal Arts swim team for the better part of a decade, several swimmers are aware of the fight against complacency.

“The most impressive aspect of this year’s team is just how bad we all want to swim well in meets, and it doesn’t matter how hard we have to work to get there,” Christen said. “The work ethic the team has shown so far this season portrays a championship-caliber swim team.”

With that kind of focus, ethic and record, it’s hard to doubt the Norse.