Pacific Index

Pacific swim starts the season off with strong individual performances 

Pacific University’s swim team may be small in numbers, but it consistently delivers big performances. Building off last season, Pacific’s swim team is ready to take action this winter— despite their small numbers and the departure of their coach just days before their first meet this season. 

In the vacuum of their coach’s departure, Assistant Coach Tabor Waterstreet has stepped up and taken the role to coach the team. 

“I am excited to have him as our head coach,” senior swimmer Kristine Dillon shared. “I have been swimming for 16 years at this point and I think this season I will improve the most with him as my coach,” Dillion said with a smile across her face. She is optimistic about the season ahead, but acknowledges the setbacks they face.

“Our biggest weakness would definitely be our size,” Dillon said with a sigh. The team has a total of 11 swimmers; nine on the women’s side and only two swimmers to hold down the men’s side. Having a small team means the biggest challenge is not consistently getting results. Meets are point based, which means that the more swimmers a team has, the more races they can compete in– and the more opportunity they have to get more points. Pacific has a small team and this leaves them at a disadvantage for gaining points compared to their competitors. 

“We are always going to lose no matter how well we perform because we don’t have enough people,” Dillion explained. Despite knowing that, the team continues to have a positive mindset and work the hardest they can. 

The first meet to open the season was against George Fox. The meet concluded with the women falling to a loss of 63 – 132 and the men with a loss of 25 – 154. Swimmers Anne Marie Grieder-Jacobs, Serafina Ferruzzi, Molly Sawyer and Alex Moehnke opened the meet by winning the women’s 400-yard medley relay in 4 minutes, 19.78 seconds. Moeknke also went on to win the 50 free in 25.95 seconds, and Grieder-Jacobs won the 200 back in 2:23.76. For the men’s squad, freshman Jack Sappington won the men’s 50 free in 22.86 and the 100 free in 51.86. The solid individual performances motivate the team to move forward and into the rest of the season. 

One of the biggest strengths and stability in the team would be the culture within the squad. “I think that the culture on our team is different from other teams,” Dillon expressed. “I know that some people might not see swimming as a team sport, but when you’re in a lane with three or four others, you have to rely on each other to hit the right times and support each other throughout.” She continued on to say that the team culture is what really boosts the energy and performance of the athletes. “I have always been close with the team,” Dillion shared. “I have never felt like I didn’t belong on the swim team, which I really appreciate.” The teammates are constantly supporting each other and make sure to cheer each other on during each event. 

Since it is so early in the season, the main goal for the team is to focus on their individual performances. “Most of our goals are individual,” Dillion explained. “For the relays the main thing you have to focus on is going as fast as you can, and everything else is more personal goals for each swimmer. We all make goals for ourselves, and overall that will still help the team.” As a collective group, Dillon explained that what they really want to continue to improve on and emphasize is their team culture. “I think that the more we are there for each other the more that we all will grow.”