3 Stories of Jaw-Dropping Progress In Division III Swimming

Photo Courtesy: Hayley Good

By Emma Foster, Swimming World College Intern

In the aftermath of championship meets, many swimmers and fans are taking the time to reflect on past results and take in the progress that has been made before diving into the depth of the spring/summer season. One meet that showed tremendous growth was the NCAA Division III Swimming Championships.

While it may not always get the hype that Division I receives, NCAA DIII swimmers are quickly and quietly throwing down times that are absolutely incredible. There are so many stars of the division, but this article will highlight three men whose stories reflect just how amazing swimming in college at the DIII level can be.

Constantly Improving

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Photo Courtesy: Abby Brethauer

Alex Anderson of the University of Mary Washington finished up his final season of swimming this year with several record-breaking performances at the NCAA DIII Championship met. He won the 200-yard butterfly, setting the NCAA record in a time of 1:44.93. Anderson was also under the NCAA record in the 200-yard IM and 400-yard IM, placing second in both events.

Beyond his swift times, Anderson’s experiences as a collegiate swimmer have been overwhelmingly positive. He describes the NCAA Championship meet atmosphere as “addicting” and attributes the strong community that makes up the division as a large part of what keeps making the meet faster and faster.

The unique atmosphere is what kept him coming back for more, and has really made him appreciate his time as a student-athlete.

“At DIII schools, if you play a sport it’s because you love it,” Anderson explained. “There are not many extra perks DIII student/athletes get outside of the pool. So, this type of atmospheres harbors people who love their sport.”

Anderson believes that the love that is fostered during their time as student-athletes leave swimmers who compete at the DIII level tethered to the sport. He explained that swimmers can’t leave the sport because, “they just love it too much.” A big reason why many of the swimmers turn into coaches.

Those coaches are part of what played an important role in Anderson’s positive experience as a college swimmer. He is an older student-athlete, 27 this year, and admits that many coaches may have been daunted by the task of helping a swimmer of his age see consistent improvement.

His coach Abby Brethauer never wavered. Anderson credits Brethauer with much of his success, explaining, “She has a way of adapting to other peoples needs. She quickly figures out the best way to approach someone and help them improve if they are willing.”

While he may be graduating and moving on, Anderson believes that the DIII level will only continue to improve. With nationals just getting faster, and the bar consistently being raised, Anderson knows that the athletes will continue to progress beyond what they thought possible, and looks forward to seeing it happen.

Setting the Bar

andrew-wilson-emory

Photo Courtesy: Emory Athletics

Emory junior Andrew Wilson had perhaps one of the most impressive showings at the NCAA DIII Championships. Wilson was awarded NCAA DIII Swimmer of the Year for his successes, which included wins in the 200-yard individual medley (1:46.23), the 100-yard breaststroke (51.72 seconds) and the 200-yard breaststroke.

Wilson set NCAA DIII records in all three of his events. But what is even more impressive is that Wilson’s times in the 100-yard breaststroke placed him as the 9th fastest American ever, while his 200-yard breaststroke time sits as the 13th-fastest mark in the world.

The most remarkable aspect about Wilson’s success is how much progress he has made in such a short amount of time. As a high school senior, Wilson was attracted to DIII schools because of the opportunity they gave him to swim. He wasn’t fast enough for anything else.

Up until college, Wilson had only swum during the high school season, and came into school with a 59.4 100-yard breakstroke. He believes the rapid progression he has seen comes in part from the switch to year-round swimming, but he also credits his coaches.

“The coaches at Emory are all great, and I owe a lot of my success to them,” Wilson said.

As much as the success has been fun, to Wilson DIII swimming is special because of the choice student-athletes make to be there. Due to the lack of scholarships, Wilson feels that everyone on the team really wants to be there, because there aren’t any other factors that would spur on commitment.

Beyond massive time drops and championship titles, the bonds that Wilson has created with his teammates are what he will remember long after his swimming days are over.

“You create a bond with your teammates from waking up at 5 a.m. and getting as broken down as you do on training trip,” Wilson said. “That’s what lasts. In the end awards and records are great, but the relationships are much more valuable.

Finding the Right Fit

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Photo Courtesy: Harrison Curley

Harrison Curley of Kenyon College has gotten his feet wet at both the Division I and Division III levels. A transfer from the University of Florida after his sophomore year, Curley found the balance he was looking for between swimming and school at Kenyon College and never looked back.

As a senior this year, Curley ended his career with a bang, helping Kenyon secure their 34th NCAA Championship trophy.

Curley left the meet with three national titles and NCAA records in the 200-yard medley relay (1:27.54), 400-yard IM (3:46.62), and 200-yard backstroke (1:43.49). Over the past two years he has dropped an impressive amount of time in his two strongest individual events: 9 seconds in the 400-yard IM and 2.5 seconds in the 200-yard backstroke.

Curley knows that the most critical aspect to his success at Kenyon is due to the support he has received from everyone around him in the program.

“No matter what struggles I faced over the last two years I have felt the undying and near-overwhelming support of my Kenyon family,” Curley said.

He describes his coach, Jess Book as “the best human I will ever have the pleasure of knowing” and values the memories that were built with his teammates.

Curley remembers one recent moment with his team that can help paint a picture of his experience at Kenyon. When the NCAA team returned from Texas, they were met by a group of their freshman boys and other swimmers waiting to welcome them home. On the ride up the hill to campus, with the freshman boys packed in the back of the car, one of them sat up from under all of the bags, declaring “this is what I missed the most.”

“He missed piling in a car with us, everyone squished and uncomfortable but as close as ever, pushing and shoving and poking and making fun of one another,” Curley explained. “He missed the two minutes it takes to ride back up the hill. He missed how close we could get, and how little time it takes for us to get there.”

While Curley may be moving on from college athletics, he knows he will never lose his status as a Lord. He knows that “there is a passion and love for every Lord and Lady at Kenyon that I am ecstatic to now pass that on to others.”

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Tom Rushton
Tom Rushton
8 years ago

Amazing stories in their own right to these three athletes, and their coaches – but taking a step back to appreciate the most impressive story of all in that ALL three of these programs are coached by Kenyon College alumni, and all of these coaches swam under coach Jim Steen.

Jaime Burrough Jess
8 years ago

Brad Bowser

Fidel Kranich
8 years ago

Good article, thanks.

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