The women’s swimming & diving team will make its first splash of the 2015-16 season this weekend in their annual red/white intrasquad scrimmage.
The coaching staff chooses the teams based on skill. To keep the scrimmage competitive, they attempt to replicate a real meet.
This year’s team has 10 freshmen, who will look to develop their roles in the first ‘meet’ of the season.
“The team is still trying to find their role, every year when we start off the season new roles are established,” Head coach Kristy Castillo said. “It’s been fun to see how those underclassmen have been emerging as leaders already.”
On the roster there are only two seniors: breaststroke swimmer Sydney Harris and diver Madie Zirzow.
Zirzow entered Ball State as a freshman when Castillo first took over the swimming team.
Being one of the only seniors, Zirzow doesn’t believe that having a young team affects the dynamic.
“Overall, our team is pretty cohesive, and we get along really well,” Zirzow said. “I would look at myself as a mentor-type figure… and I enjoy being that person that they look up to.”
Zirzow has dominated in her three years at Ball State, she ranks fourth all-time in the 1-meter, with a six-dive 276.75-point performance against Evansville last season. She also ranks fifth in school history in the 3-meter with her 289.05 in six dives during the Mid-American Conference Championships last season.
As a team, the Cardinals finished in last place last season at the MAC Championships, something they look to improve on this year.
“This far, I think the overall cohesiveness has been so much better, and we’re all on the same page,” Zirzow said. “Our goal last year was to win MAC, and it wasn’t out of reach, it was one of those things that felt out of reach for a lot of girls.”
Only time will tell this season, and the MAC Championships are scheduled in Bowling Green, Ohio in late February.
The red/white intrasquad scrimmage will take place in Lewellen Aquatic Center at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10.
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