Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving concluded their season at ECACs. GOJASPERS / COURTESY
Mack Olmsted, Senior Writer
The Manhattan University swim team has spent the last several years representing what it means to be an underdog, facing challenges such as not having a coach and not having a home pool. Not only have they overcome these challenges, they’ve broken records in the process.
Over the last four years, senior Joe Brennan, captain of the MU swim team, experienced firsthand uphill challenges with his team. When he first arrived on the MU campus in 2021, the swim team did not have a head coach, and it wasn’t until October of that year when a new coach was hired.
“We didn’t have a coach until close to October, and we barely had any pool time,” Brennan said. “There was just a lot of uncertainty regarding the team and whether we were going to survive as a program or just get cut. Now with Brian (Hansbury) our coach, I feel like he’s got this program headed in a good direction, and the team’s got a really bright future.”
Since then, the team has made record breaking strides. Brennan made Manhattan University history last year by becoming the first MU swimmer to win a first place medal at the MAAC championships, finishing first in the 100-yard breaststroke.
“I won the 100 breaststroke at our conference meet,” Brennan said. “And just being the first person in Manhattan swimming history to win a gold medal at a conference meet was a huge accomplishment… I’m so proud of what the team has gone through.”
Sophomore Gavin Harding, who competes in butterfly, freestyle and backstroke events, said the team’s perseverance is what defines them as underdogs.
“I think our drive and our will is what I really love about this team,” Harding said. “The team is great because you could throw anything at us, and we will always find a way around it. There were some days where it was hard to go to practice late at night or early in the morning after classes, especially when it’s not on your campus, because there’s a lot of times where, when we have swim meets, we can’t have home meets when we’re going away. So it does take a little bit of, you know, a mental toughness, to push yourself through, to really remind yourself that we’re doing this as a unit.”
Senior Grace Dillon, a breaststroke swimmer, emphasized the team’s determination to overcome obstacles. She explained to The Quadrangle how swimming at times feels like a personal sport to her.
“We’re [the swim team] small but mighty,” Dillon said. “We’re here to fight. So regardless of setbacks, we still have an ability to come out on top and that’s what I love about swimming, honestly, that yes, there are team scores and eventually there is a team that’s going to win, but no matter what, it’s about your hard work and dedication.”
As the seniors prepare to graduate, they left The Quadrangle with similar messages for the underclassmen: for them to continue to carry the team forward and continue being the underdogs that they are.
“My advice would just be, don’t get intimidated,” Brennan said. “You can’t control everything, but you can always control the effort you’re putting in.”