Alumni meet starts season swimmingly

The Luther swim team started off its season with the annual Alumni Meet on Saturday, Oct. 6. Alumni from various decades participated in relay and individual events alongside current swimmers.

Matt Yan / Chips

The meet marked the beginning of what looks to be an exciting swim season. The Norse are strengthened by a large first-year class of over 20 men and women.

“I’m guessing the new pool has a lot to do with it,” three-year letter winner and two-time Most Valuable Swimmer Tim Cutler (‘13) said.

The newcomers will join an experienced team that looks for more success down the road.
“The women’s team is really good this year,” letter winner Devan Benjamin (‘13) said. “We’re looking to win the Liberal Arts Championships (LAC) and send swimmers to nationals.”
To do well at LAC and the conference tournament, the team must be in peak physical condition. The first few weeks of the season will be dedicated to getting the swimmers in shape.

“It’s a little bit of technique and a little bit of endurance,” letter winner Kyrie Dailey (‘15) said. “We need to build up for the rest of the season because we get into a lot of high intensity stuff, so we’re just kind of building our base.”

Matt Yan / Chips

Swimming is one of the few sports at Luther that requires double practices for the majority of the season. Team members have to get up early, day in and day out, to condition their bodies for competition.

“It’s really tough on your schedule,” three-year letter winner Jordan Skaar (‘13) said. “We have morning practice, then school, then afternoon practice, then homework. You get into a routine, but it keeps you on top of your stuff. You have to be that way to keep up. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

The swim season may be grueling, but the swimmers get more out of it than just a good workout.

“My favorite part is probably the team,” Skaar said. “You become a family. Personally, my best friends are on the team. People say we’re cliquey and we might be, but that comes along with every team here at Luther. Just the people in general are awesome.”

For the seniors, this will be their last year competing in a sport that consumes so much of their time.

“It’s different,” Cutler said. “It’s all on the line. You pretty much have to make or break your goals, but it’s also kind of relieving.”

In Benjamin’s case, this season is especially meaningful as it will be the last time she competes with her sister, Chloe (‘14).

“We’ve been swimming together since we were little,” Benjamin said. “I’m going to miss it a lot.”