Bobcats back to business after busy break

by Tim Pappa
THE POST

Days of fall break: 42.

Hours of swimming each day: six.

Beginning of Winter Quarter: priceless.

After battling through an intense winter break session of training, the Ohio men's and women's swimming teams head to Duquesne to compete in a dual meet Saturday at 1 p.m.

Ohio coach Greg Werner had both teams working out six hours a day, whether it was on land, in the weight room or in the water. The sessions ran for three hours in the morning and three in the evening. Swimmer Kristen Baldinger summed up the training as exhausting.

"We were the only ones here for the entire break," Baldinger said, "We had to find an upperclassman to live with while we trained all day. It got to be pretty lonely here and the team was constantly physically and mentally torn down. We're just happy to be done with it."

Brenden Buffett also felt the training was very tough, but knew it would be a waste not to take advantage of the opportunity of time off.

"We have so much time off during the (winter) break," Buffett said, "So we take advantage of it because there are no NCAA rules against the amount of time we practice."

As the mid-season approaches, the women's team is still the owner of a 7-0 record, while the men's team is hovering at a 2-3 record. Assistant coach Andy Kershaw places the difference in the teams' performances as a matter of men's and women's bodies being physically different, thus responding differently to training.

"A lot has to do with the physical differences between them," Kershaw said, "Last year the women won their conference and the men placed fourth. I don't want to say it has to do with talent, but the girls are having more success right now. It's a physical thing."

Kershaw also said the contrast in records has nothing to do with how much enthusiasm the coaches put behind the teams as they progress through the season.

"Swimming is a unique sport," Kershaw said, "You can look at what's important very easily because it is based on time. But you don't necessarily look at the record or number of points. You look at how they are developing. We're thrilled for the women and their success, but we still keep the same goal for each team - keep improving."

While the peak of intense training at this point of the season rather than the beginning may seem unusual, Kershaw said swimmers aim to peak right at the end of the season, rather then expecting each swimmer to bust out right from the first race.

"Both the men and women's bodies are going to peak at different times, "Kershaw said. "But we hope for both of them to be their fastest at the end of the season in timing with the finals."

As the Bobcats head to Duquesne this weekend, Kershaw said the goal remains the same.

"Go out and have a good swim and hopefully come out with a win," Kershaw said, "We're here to take care of business and that's what we are going to do at each meet."