Hamline’s Swim and Dive season slate wrapped up last week with a strong showing at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, including personal bests across the board and most notably, a regionals-qualifying performance on the 1-meter boards from senior captain Kevin Bossou.
“[The search for the second zone cut] was the reason for going to the First Chance Meet, to see if I could get that again before our conference championship,” Bossou said, referring to his previous record at his first qualifying showing, where he scored 425 points through 11 dives.
After finishing less than 20 points away, that left the championship meet as the last chance to meet that goal.
“Our diving team has a long history of regional appearances, and to continue that trend would be an exciting way for Kevin to cap off his senior year,” said head coach Alex Card via email. “I know this is something he’s been chasing since his freshman year, and both him and Coach Casey have worked hard in adjusting his list to be something he’s confident in while also being excited to compete.”
Head Swim Coach,
Alex Card (back) squats
down by the side of the
pool, convening post-
lap with junoir Katarina
Kocher (left), first-
year and Oracle staff
member Matías Vega
(middle), and first-year,
Jackson Ling (right).
The personal bests across the team at MIACs were exactly what both the coaches and players were pulling for. Sophomore Captain Cori Dawson is a prime example of someone who overcame adversity to achieve these high marks.
“I had to do a big pivot because I had a hip injury this season and sprinting was just not really in the cards,” said Dawson. “I kind of proved to myself that it’s okay to do mid-distance and that you can still be fast, which is exciting.”
Through the injury and the midseason competition alterations, Dawson knocked 17 seconds off of her 500 Free time and achieved new personal bests in the 100 and 200 Free.
“For next season, I feel comfortable knowing that either if I choose sprinting or if I choose to keep doing the 500 that I’ll have people to train with,” Dawson said about how her teammates, namely Megan Gunderson, motivate her mid-distance training.
While the season ended with a splash, the feeling is partially melancholic, as the seniors will be leaving the team.
“I don’t know how I’m feeling, because I’m excited for the season to be over, but I’m also kind of sad because I’ve been here for four years,” said Bossou. “Being captain these past two years has taught me leadership skills and ways of connecting with my community and my teammates and people around me, and I’m gonna miss it.”
It is easy for some to lose sight of the core of why they play, but many on the swim and dive team have made a point to keep it in focus.
“I think, [Feb. 10th, the final practice, especially we were focused on getting the set done and then being silly and making that last fun memory in the pool,” Dawson said. “On our MIACs shirt, the back says ‘let’s play mermaids,’ and that’s kind of been the theme this season.”
Continuing, Dawson says that, yes, the pool is a place that the team sinks hours of effort into, but it’s also still a place that offers immense joy to the team.
