Senior Cole Smith swims for last time at Lewellen Pool

<p>The Ball State Men's Swim and Dive team prepares gets ready before&nbsp;the swim and dive meet against IUPUI and the University of Milwaukee on Jan. 23 at Lewellen Pool. DN PHOTO ALAINA JAYE HALSEY</p>

The Ball State Men's Swim and Dive team prepares gets ready before the swim and dive meet against IUPUI and the University of Milwaukee on Jan. 23 at Lewellen Pool. DN PHOTO ALAINA JAYE HALSEY

Player Bio

Name - Cole Smith

Year - Senior

Position - Team captain

Events: 50 free, 100 free, 200 free

In the lifespan of every organization, leaders come and go, and for the men's swimming and diving team, senior Cole Smith finished the last swim at Lewellen Aquatic Center of his career on Feb. 13.

Smith, a 22-year-old senior captain of the Ball State men’s swimming and diving team, is the only swimmer who was celebrated during the team's Senior Day, since he was the only senior on the roster.

There is always a moment where an athlete is forced to give up competing, and outside of the Mid-American Conference championships, Smith's career is almost at an end.

“I remember talking to my brother about a week ago about how I’ve only known myself as an athlete my whole life, so I don’t know if I’m really ready to give this up,” he said. “My body feels ready, but I don’t know if I can just give up being an athlete.”

In high school, Smith was a member of his high school football team in Columbia City, Ind., but hung up the pads to take his athleticism into the water.

After spending his last two years of high school in the pool, he decided to try to swim at a collegiate level.

“I didn’t even think I would initially be good enough to swim in college. I didn’t make the decision to swim in college until the last month of high school,” Smith said.

Smith's brother went to Ball State, so he decided to come because of his familiarity with the school.

“There were years where he probably wouldn’t have made the team," head coach Bob Thomas said. "He came in very inexperienced, had trouble keeping up in his lane, and he wasn’t used to the workload that we have."

Four years later on Senior Day, Smith posted three first-place finishes in the four events in which he competed. 

He opened the meet against Miami with a first-place time of 1:36.03 in the 200-yard medley relay with three of his teammates. He went on to take an individual first-place finsih in the 50-yard freestyle (21.80), a third-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle (48.45) and a team victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:09.59).

While Smith was the only senior on the team, he received plenty of support from his family, who came out for his last meet.

“I always have a big family support group in the stands, which is really nice. I very much appreciate them,” Smith said.

Thomas has been with Ball State for 37 years and has never had as unique of a roster as this season.

“Coaching a team with one senior has never happened since I’ve been here," Thomas said. "And I've been here for a long time."

Being the only senior comes with its own benefits and hardships.

“It still really hasn’t hit me that I’m a senior this year. Sometimes I forget I’m a senior, honestly. I’m the only one, so I really don’t have anyone to share that with," Smith said. “Half the time, it doesn’t even cross my mind that this is my last year. But I’m sure when I get to MAC and swim there, it will hit me.”

Smith is anticipating that the upcoming conference championships will bring out the emotional tie he’s built with the sport and his teammates for the past four years.

“I definitely am taking away the friendships, that’s the biggest thing I’ll miss," Smith said. "We’re all just here for the love of the sport. Being an athlete really connects people in a way where most people don’t understand."

Being the only senior, it was imperative that Smith was an effective leader, and Thomas thought he did just that.

“He definitely has a lot of leadership skills. Not only potential, but executes being a leader. When he speaks, the team listens,” Thomas said. “He does lead by example and is just a great senior to have on the team. If you’re only going to have one, he is definitely the one you want.”

The 2016 MAC championships will be March 2-5 in Ypsilanti, Mich., and Smith has high goals moving forward to his last meet.

“My ultimate goal for this season is to get two records in the 50 and 100 free. It would be nice to make the championship meet, because I’ve never made it before. That would be pretty cool,” Smith said.

Thomas is looking forward to seeing Smith and the rest of his team apply the skills they’ve acquired this season at the MAC championship.

Comments

More from The Daily






This Week's Digital Issue


Loading Recent Classifieds...