Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: Sports

On Saturday, October 8, 2005, the Hendrix Warriors swimming team traveled to Tunica, Mississippi for the Rhodes Relays. The other schools attending this competition were Rhodes College and Delta State University, a Division II school that is consistently ranked in the top five nationally. Because of the lack of teams, the meet was only used as an assessment and scores weren't kept. Hendrix swimming coach Jim Kelly said it was a good chance to evaluate the team's conditioning and technique.

Since it was not a real meet the races could get creative. In the Jean Relay a competitor would swim a length in a pair of jeans and then transfer it to their teammate who would do another length. This also meant that the largest swimmers jeans had to be used.

"We had to use my jeans because it was the only pair that everyone would fit into; but as it turned out, they kept slipping off of everyone and just hung by their ankles," said sophomore swimmer Mark Ayoub
"It was hilarious," said junior diver Britney McCarthy.

The normal procedure was changed for the divers as well. They were scored as a pair. Two divers would do a total of six dives, alternating each dive between them.

"Seeing Jill dive with her sister was real cool," said McCarthy about senior Jill Greshowak and freshman Katie Greshowak.
The women's diving team looks to be especially strong with the return of the elder Greshowak and McCarthy. Both earned Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference all-conference honors last year. McCarthy also earned All-American honors.

Elyse Beard, who earned three SCAC All-Conference honors last year in the freestyle, individual medley, and breaststroke, returns for the swim team.

While the men's diving team lacks depth, there is only one member. Sophomore diver Greg Potter finished fourth at the conference meet last year, one spot shy of earning All-Conference.

Kelly feels that one of the strong points for both the men and women's swimming and diving teams is leadership. Senior swimmer Michael Licatino is the captain for the men and Greshowak leads the women.
The Hendrix swimming and diving team expects to have a very difficult schedule this season, competing against many scholarship schools. Coach Kelly described the team as a work in progress, but anticipates that they will improve throughout the year and finish strongly.
The next opponent for the women is University of Arkansas at Little Rock on October 21. The Hendrix Classic on October 28 will be the first serious meet of the season.

"We'll be facing pretty intense competition there. UALR is D-I and Henderson State is D-II," said McCarthy of the Classic.

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