2012-13 A MEMORABLE SEASON WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
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“I think people are noticing what we’re doing,” Sowa said. “We’re not done yet. We have a lot more goals as a program but this was a four-year plan and we’ve made some significant progress. We’re happy with that.
RACHEL MILLET
This year, the Vandals broke 12 school records making a total of 25 broken records over the last two years. Also, they finished the season ranked 25th in the www.CollegeSwimming.com mid-major poll.
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“Last year they realized that they can compete at a very high level and this year they went in knowing not only can they compete at a high level but they also can win things,” Sowa said.
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This season was one of many firsts for the Idaho team. The Vandals won three events at the WAC Championships, Paige Hunt was Diver of the Year in the WAC, and they had two NCAA B cut times – all of which are firsts for the program.
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“We made significant progress. We went from seventh place last year (at the WAC Championship meet) to fourth place this year and we increased our point total by over 100 points.”
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“I’m very proud of the progress we made this year,” Idaho coach Mark Sowa said. “I think it was arguably the best season in Idaho swimming and diving history, at least in the WAC.
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JAMIE STERBIS
“It’s confidence in how they train; confidence with a new coaching staff, and it’s confidence in knowing each player has each other’s back,” Sowa said. “I think we make a mistake thinking it’s an individual sport. We talk about the team a lot and helping each other out in good times and in bad. I think they’ve started to figure that stuff out.”
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Sowa saw significant progress this year in the team’s confidence, which he says has been a major factor in its recent success.
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“We took a couple weeks to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done but now we’ve turned the page and we’re going to get better this spring.”
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This season will go down as one of the best in program history as the Idaho Swimming and Diving team wraps up the 2012-13 season and looks ahead to 2013-14.
During the offseason, Sowa and the team are looking to improve even more and Sowa says that they’re well on their way to do so. “If we aren’t trying to get better we’re getting worse,” Sowa said. “The neat part about this time of year is they have to decide to be at the pool; there’s only so much we can ask of them. They have made the decision to really embrace the full schedule and training hard this spring. I think they’re doing a great job.” There’s more ahead for the Vandals – even before they take on the 2013-14 season. “This summer, Rachel Millet and Jamie Sterbis will be representing Idaho in the U.S. Open,” Sowa said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
TEAM STANDINGS San Jose State 695 Northern Arizona 688 Denver 631.5 IDAHO 409 New Mexico State 331.5 Northern Colorado 289 North Dakota 230 Cal State Bakersfield 188 Seattle University 144