After this year’s Senior Class graduates, the men’s varsity swim team will have to go through major rebuilds since 21 seniors are graduating. New roles and team dynamics, as well as working to build the underclassmen into leaders are just a few of the challenges that the coaches will have to go through. However, swimmers and coaches said the leadership and impact the seniors have had on their teams will remain. 

Assistant swim coach Jon Ranochak said the seniors’ leadership with the swim team has been a really important factor to helping the team. 

“The easy answer is (they provide) a good example. Past that, however, you’re looking at years of development with an athlete or through an athlete. We’ve been extremely blessed to have a lot of very good, for lack of better word, senior leadership,” Ranochak said. “Their leadership has been invaluable to our younger kids, showing them how we do things and why we do things.”

Ranochak also said the team culture has almost been entirely directed by the senior class. 

“It’s not so much as shaping (the culture) but directing it. These people, these 17-18-year-olds are directing where the flow is going. They are driving the bus, and they’re our North Star. In terms of shaping what we’re doing, they’re our attitude, our energy and our focus in a lot of ways,” Ranochak said. 

While the seniors set good examples for the team and teach them aspects of the sport outside of the physical sport itself, they also give lessons to the younger team members that they can use in the future whether it’s in a collegiate setting or in a job. Alex Harrell, varsity swimmer and junior, is a good example of this. 

“A big thing I’ve learned is to keep everyone united, always be present and be happy to be a part of this incredible team,” Harrell said. “One of the seniors sent me a large list of questions and things to say during the recruiting process. That was really meaningful to me and I’ve consulted it many times before calls with coaches.” 

But current seniors still have this season to make a mark. Drew Dubois, varsity swimmer and senior, said he’s excited for what this season will bring.  

“I think it’s going to be a good season. I’m excited for it, but I’ll be sad that I am leaving all the guys behind after this year,” Dubois said. “However, I want (the juniors and underclassmen) to be excited for the next season and look forward to it.”