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A first place finish in the final event of the day, the 400 Freestyle Relay, helped propel the University of Rochester men’s swimming and diving team to a narrow 152-146 victory at Union College. [read more]

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In a double-dual meet that finished up Saturday afernoon, the men's swimming and diving team produced top-three finishes in close to 10 events.[read more]

After day one, the University of Rochester men’s swimming and diving team is deadlocked with Case Western Reserve at 63 while trailing NYU by just one (61-60).[read more]

Four individuals and both Rochester men's and women's teams have been honored for academic achievement by the College Swim Coaches Association of America.[read more]

The Yellowjackets gave head coach Peter Thompson plenty to applaud in 2008-09.

Coming into the 2008-2009 swimming and diving season, head coach Peter Thompson knew he had a strong group of freshmen coming in to build up men’s and women’s teams that already boasted a number of impressive athletes. He had seen their high school and club times, and was optimistic about what they could bring to the table. What he, nor anyone else on the coaching staff, could predict was the level of commitment the new swimmers and divers would bring and how they would fit in with their new team. Looking back on the year, he couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised.

“Our team came to train every single day,” coach Thompson said. “They came together really well as a group and fed off each other. It comes from enthusiasm and a desire to be part of something bigger than themselves.”

That’s just one of the many ways Thompson says the team was successful. A look at the win-loss record the teams put up is deceiving, as both the men and women finished 3-7 in dual meets. However, that is to be expected when the coaching staff put together one of the toughest schedules in the country, and Thompson described the season as “a phenomenal year.”

“Every team we faced was represented at nationals this year,” he said, speaking to the strength of schedule. “It’s always fun to score more points than your opponent, but we view it as an opportunity to swim up to our competition and understand what it takes to be an elite program at the Division III level. Our hope is that in a year or two, our opponents will be swimming up to us.”

His optimism certainly isn’t unwarranted, as the teams statistically put up some mind-boggling numbers. Combining the men and women, 19 school records fell this season, including every women’s relay record. In addition, 351 lifetime bests were posted by the swimmers, something Thompson called “unheard of.” The Yellowjackets also boasted rookie of the meet awards for both teams at the Liberty League Championships.

But it’s not just the stats in the pool that were impressive. The women finished the season with the 18th highest grade point average in Division III, a testament to both the school and the team.

When Thompson talks about his team, he stresses a mantra the team has adopted: Leave the program better than you found it. He is also quick to praise the upperclassmen and even the alumni for taking that motto to heart.

“The seniors have 100% achieved that,” he said. “We have kids who take an active role in recruiting kids who they know are faster than them. It speaks to the kind of kids at UR because they want to be challenged. Plus, they are happy here at UR, so it all plays into being successful [as a team].”

Looking to the future, Thompson mentioned three tangible goals for the team in the coming years. First, he wants the team to be in the top half of the University Athletic Association. He also wants to see the team become one of the top programs in New York State. Finally, he is looking for consistent representation at nationals.

Thompson is confident that achieving these goals is a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if,’ but he is also quick to point out an equally important intangible goal for his squad.

“The intangible goal is that our kids have a positive experience here,” he said. “It’s a goal we are fulfilling, but it’s also something that you have to consistently work on because it is fragile.”

For next season, Thompson has kept the difficult schedule intact, and he is confident that it is one of many factors that work in his team’s favor. With 93% of the points scored at the UAA Championship meet coming from athletes who are returning next season, it’s easy to see why he is so optimistic.

“UR is going to sell itself; the program will attract bright, mature, self-motivated kids,” he said. “Our schedule is one of the best in the country, we have a dedicated coaching staff, and we have tremendous support from the administration.”

“Right now, our team understands where we are heading and where we ought to be. The history of Rochester swimming is pretty storied... we’re going to get there.”

The men's swimming and diving team was edged for sixth place at the UAA Championships in Chicago.[read more]

After two days and 26 events, Rochester’s men stand in sixth place at the UAA swimming and diving championships. [read more]

Rochester’s men’s swimming and diving team held off a stiff challenge from Chicago to claim second place in the prelims of the 400 medley relay on the first day of the UAA championships[read more]

Six members of Rochester’s men’s swimming and diving team have made the 2008-2009 University Athletic Association (UAA) Winter Sport All-Academic Team.[read more]

Rochester's ready to compete in the UAA swimming and diving championships - perhaps the nation's toughest meet.[read more]

Rochester won five events, but host Ithaca produced a 183-117 victory over the Yellowjackets in the final dual meet of the season.[read more]

The men's swimming and diving team had 12 first place finishes and five runnerups to out-point Nazareth College, 175-110, on Saturday.[read more]

Kevin Howard won three events, Vincent Ness took two, and Bobby McCue one in a dual swim meet vs. SUNY Cortland on Friday.[read more]