The Ball State's swimming and diving teams open their seasons Friday night at home against Evansville.
As the Cardinals prepare for their first meet, men's coach Bob Thomas has as much passion at the outset of this year as he had 32 years ago.
"I really couldn't see myself doing anything else," said Thomas, who grew up in a family of elite swimmers. "I just enjoy working with the young men and helping them develop."
This season will bring yet another challenge for a coach who has faced so many of them.
"We lost some major swimmers from last year, and it will be an interesting season with our losses and replacements," Thomas said. "But we do have good talent returning and some good freshmen, but we will have to see how they develop."
Thomas said the key replacements must come in the sprint freestyle and backstroke events, though he said they have talent in the backstroke.
Four seniors – sprinter Josh Young, distance specialist Mark Golden and divers Jeremy Whited and Chris Behrle – lead the squad. Gavin McNeeley, a junior who has swum his way into the Ball State record books in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, will be counted on as a consistent performer.
Thomas said the long season, which begins Friday and goes until early March, gives the team time to develop.
"We have some very early meets this season, and we're still getting into the swing of things in terms of conditioning," he said. "The beginning of the season is going to be a little bit of an unknown, but all we can do is hope we are ready to compete."
The Cardinals' meet against the Purple Aces begins at 6 p.m. Friday at Lewellen Aquatic Center.
Ball State will host Evansville and Valparaiso in the Ball State Relay Invitational on Saturday at 9 a.m.
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