Maddie Luebkert, Asst. Social Media Editor–

On March 2, four of Denison’s Club Swim Team members traveled to the University of Pittsburgh to compete in their Club Swim Spring Invitational. This was the first time the Club Swim Team has been able to attend a swim meet since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

President Holly Weisfelder ‘25 attended the event along with swimmers Maddie Manczka ‘27, Lauren Sexton ‘27, and Kieran Athy ‘27. Manczka was introduced to the Club Swim Team last fall. 

“I already knew going into my freshman year that I wanted to join the team since I swam all throughout high school,” Manczka said. 

Manczka felt pretty good about her swims in this past meet. She swam the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke, and 100-yard backstroke. She placed sixth in both the 50 and 100-yard backstrokes. There is a bit of preparation that Manczka has to engage in before swimming. 

“I tend to run through my races and work on my starts in practice a few days before the meet and then I also try to get plenty of sleep the night before,” she said.  

Manczka isn’t the only one with a pre-meet routine. Kieran Athy revealed that he likes to focus on mentality when preparing to swim. 

Athy decided to join the Swim Club after swimming competitively all four years of high school. He has not gotten the chance to swim in a meet since then.

“I had to realign my expectations of how fast I’d be. I knew I wouldn’t get my personal best times, but I still wanted to try my best, and that’s the mindset I went to this meet with.” Athy said. 

Athy swam in the 100-yard backstroke, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and 100-yard IM. Since the pandemic, club swim has been in the process of building the team back up.

Manczka shared that what keeps her motivated to keep swimming are the people she practices with and her love for the sport. 

“I really enjoy the low-stress practice dynamic that our club team has.” Manczka said.

Not only that, but Manczka also appreciates the friends that she has made through club swim. “My favorite part about being on the team is the friends that I have made – they are really what makes swimming so fun!”