Northwestern University Athletics
The 2000-01 Men's Swimming and Diving Outlook
10/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 25, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. -
After a ninth-place finish at last year's Big Ten Championships, the men's swimming and diving team is back with more experience and maturity, raised expectations, a strong freshman class and two new coaches.
Head coach Bob Groseth, who is in his 12th season at Northwestern, is looking to his upperclassmen for leadership while knowing that some talented freshmen enter the program with the ability to make an immediate impact.
Steve Steketee, Todd Capen, Kellan O'Connor, Mike Shue and Jason Merchant all swam at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in August. The experience they bring to the team this season will be key to the goals of placing in the upper half at Big Tens and having multiple qualifiers for the NCAA Championships.
"Those guys competed at the highest level in our sport," said Groseth. "That raised their level of expectations. I think having gone through that experience, they're not going to be intimidated by others in the conference. They bring a sense of maturity and a `been there, done that' mentality.
"In terms of strengths and weaknesses, I think our biggest strength is the fly," said Groseth. "We're already strong in that stroke, we didn't lose anything, and we brought [freshman] Mark Hamming in."
O'Connor enters his sophomore season after making tremendous strides last year. In his freshman season, he shattered the school's 200 butterfly record and was the highest placer for the team at Big Tens, coming in fifth in the 200 fly.
"Kellan will certainly be one of the guys we look to for points in 2000," said Groseth.
Steketee, who has been a big factor in the freestyle and relays by placing high in Big Tens and competing at the NCAA Championships, will lead the freestyle events. Steketee will be joined by freshman Tony Swanson in the 200. Nick Barnes and Adam Kennedy compete in the 50 and 100 sprints, while Shue and freshman Shelby Clark compete in the middle distance. Rounding out the group is freshmen Tommy Lockman, Trevor Fort and Dan Williams, who have the potential to develop into strong freestylers this year.
In the backstroke, the team still hasn't been able to replace the talent of Brian Walters from two years ago. Groseth feels that Capen or O'Connor "will have to step up to the plate" in the relays. All the other legs will be easily filled.
"Breaststroke should be a good event for us," said Groseth. "We have some talent here, especially in sophomore Eugene Kim and freshman Aaron McCracken."
Under new diving coach Tom Michael, the divers hope to show great improvement and add to the team's points more this year than they have in the past.
"We're real excited about Tom Michael," said Groseth. "We've already seen a difference in attitude.
Freshman Adam Barker joins junior Elliot Massuda on the boards this season. Massuda, who posted three victories last year, has already shown improvement in the preseason.
"Part of it is the atmosphere created by Tom, the other is the competition from Adam Barker," said Groseth. "Elliot is not by himself now. For the first time in a couple of years, we will have two divers that we expect to score in Big Tens."
The addition of assistant coach Sergio Lopez to the program will prove to be a factor immediately.
"Having Sergio here this year has already made a difference to the team," said Groseth. "They've already reached a certain fitness level. The fact that he has been to the Olympics a couple of times makes it easier for the kids to respect his demands."
Eight freshmen enter the program this year and Groseth feels five can make a strong impact on the team immediately. Swanson brings a lot of talent in the 200 IM and 200 free, but he "swims just about everything -- he's Mr. Versatility," said Groseth. "He will definitely be a factor in all the relays."
McCracken will be a factor in the breaststroke, while Hamming will strengthen an already strong group of 200 flyers. Hamming will also contribute in the 200 IM. Clark will chip in as a distance freestyler, and Barker will bring much-needed depth as a diver, bringing points to an area that has remained fairly quiet the past few years.
Groseth also foresees great collegiate careers for Lockman, Fort and Williams as they gain experience in their first year with the program.
"I'm expecting to surprise people," said Groseth. "We have some guys who have done some pretty impressive things already and some young guys who I think will do some impressive things."
