The Marion Bowman Aquatics Center has seen a multitude of success in the past, that is no question. However, the 2018-19 men’s and women’s swim teams have looked impressive even to the incredible even to their own standards. Both teams are currently undefeated (men are 3-0 while women are 4-0) and the men are currently ranked 14th in the nation, so things are looking up for both swim teams.
In the early season, the Lions had all but one meet at home and traveled to Rollins University. The men’s swimming team dominated there as they picked up a victory in every event minus one. Freshman Hampus Lovinge led with three individual victories after coming off of his Sunshine State Conference Swimmer of the Week Award. He picked up a win in the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 100 individual medley. Junior Henrik Dahrendorff won two individual races and a relay crown as well. As an individual, he picked up the victory in both the 50 and 100 breaststrokes. He also picked up a victory in the 200 medley with senior Stanley “Kane” Klimczak and sophomore Fridtjov Mork.
Not only are the Lions winning individual races, but they are dominating on the podium as they swept three events (100 butterfly, 100 individual medley and 100 freestyle).
The women’s swimming team is currently outside of the top 25 in the nation, but have received votes in the most recent poll, and it wouldn’t be a huge shock if they become ranked in the near future.
The women’s swim team has been no slouch themselves as they also traveled to Rollins and ended up with victories in nine of the 14 events. Junior Julia Chmielewska, junior Annie Lindstrom and sophomore Paulina Majszutowicz all picked up two individual victories while senior Karina Kolb picked up an individual victory as well. Lindstrom also posted a time of 24.04 in the 50 freestyle, which was good for an NCAA “B” standard qualifying time.
Both the men’s and women’s teams are winning their meets at a staggering rate as six of the first seven meets have been won by at least 50 points. The next time the teams hit the pool is not until Nov. 17 when they travel to Tampa to face off against the Spartans. The teams don’t compete at the Marion Bowman Aquatics Center until Feb. 1 when they face off against Rollins for the second time. Make sure to keep updated on the program’s success as the season progresses.
