8th Annual HOUR of POWER

The Sharks, along with 150+ other collegiate swim teams participated in the 8th Annual Hour of Power on Tuesday, November 12th.

The Hour of Power is an effort to remember a fellow Division III swimmer, Ted Mullin, Carleton College, who died of Sarcoma Cancer in 2006.  Since his battle with Sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer, his family and friends created this event to rally camaraderie among collegiate swimming programs, and to raise awareness of Sarcoma Cancer (and to raise funds to support related research).  The workout is a dynamic 60-minute relay that requires all-out efforts on every swim.

There are three primary objectives that must be met throughout the Hour of Power:

1. Each swim must be done with an all-out effort - "leave it in the pool!"

2. At any given moment, all the relays need to be on the same length.  Any stroke may be used and team members need to shift from one relay lane to another to help maintain the same length objective.  This will require constant communication and teamwork!

3. For high levels of performance to occur throughout this hour, equally high levels of enthusiastic encouragement must also occur!

We were shooting for one hour of the highest level of collective energy on deck and in the water!  And we achieved it!

I am proud that Simmons participated again this year.  Everyone knows that CANCER SUCKS - but it felt great to join our fellow collegiate swimmers to send a bold reminder!  

2013-2014 Season off to a Great Start!

Simmons Swimming & Diving: Season Preview

The Simmons Swim and Dive Team has been training hard for the past month, and finally our first dual meets have arrived!  Our season home-opener was Saturday, 10/26 versus Westfield State.  The Simmons women were eager to race!  Last year's match up with Westfield came down to the last relay, where Simmons finished first and second to secure the win.  Needless to say, our opponent was looking for retribution, but Simmons planned on remaining dominant... And SUCCEEDED!  Simmons won the meet by a broad margin, finishing first in 12 out of 16 events.

Conference honors were earned by J. Collins, a Senior Freestyle and IM specialist, and M. Swisher, a rookie Backstroker.  In addition to sweeping the GNAC polls for week 1, the Simmons women set a new school and pool record in the 200 Medley Relay.  With her lead off 50 Backstroke split, M. Swisher also set an individual school record.

The second match-up for Simmons was a double dual meet with Elms College and Gordon College on Saturday, 11/2.  Simmons beat both opponents and continued to add top times to the NEISDA's top-32 report.    

For the past few years, our program has been gaining a more competitive reputation.  The team appears hungry to keep climbing the ranks.  In addition to defending our Conference title, the team is hoping to improve the dual meet record and settle the scores from a few of last season's close losses.  The next big meet will be against the University of New England on Friday, 11/8.  

There is no question that the Simmons roster is full of competitors. Everyone seems to share a mindset of striving to be the best.  As their coach, I certainly know what these women are capable of, now it's just a matter of broadcasting that potential to our opponents.  Stay tuned... www.simmons.edu/athletics