Wilkes swimming returns to the water this year to compete against “real” teams for the first time since the 2019-2020 season.

Last year, the teams competed virtually due to the regulations outlined by the Middle Atlantic Conference because of the pandemic.

“I’m really looking forward to in-person meets this year,” said head coach Thomas Limouze. “I am really proud of how the team handled virtual meets last year, and I know they’re looking forward to getting back to normal. Last night I heard a sophomore say, ‘I’m excited to see a new pool.’ So it’s all of those other parts of competing in person that I and I think the team are looking forward to: the bus ride, highway scenery, new places, other campuses and other pools.”

The restrictions last year made the team compete only at their home pool (the CYC) and upload their times to the MAC where they were then compared to the team they were competing against.

“I think the impact of having in person meets again is that now you are swimming next to another swimmer head to head which drives you a lot more to go faster,” said junior freestyle/IM Liam White. “With virtual meets, it was just swimming and timing yourself.”

Limouze also felt the importance of having opponents to compete against to be crucial to the results of the meet. However, he does not believe that the in-person competition will automatically make the team faster.

Senior Fly/IM Trey Harloff will be leading this team as he is the returning record holder for the 200 IM and a part of four relay records (400 and 800 free, 200 and 400 medley).

“I am most looking forward to being able to swim under a more normal setting and perform at high-level competitions including MACs and to challenge myself and my teammates the best I can, while enjoying and excelling in my senior year in mechanical engineering,” said Harloff.

The men’s team is looking to use this season to improve upon their 11th place performance in the virtual MAC championship last season.

The women’s team is small but mighty this season as they are returning five swimmers. Senior distance/IM Abby Keating is a 5th year pharmacy student who holds seven individual records, junior sprint/distance Alexa Crossgrove who holds five individual records and senior captain Emilie Detweiler look to lead this team to improve upon their 13th place performance in the virtual MAC Championships last season.

The teams will travel for most of their meets this year, but will be hosting Lycoming on Jan. 22 at the CYC and competing against the local colleges.