Midway through the 2023 football season, former University of Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban said at a press conference, “If you’re complacent, and not paying attention to detail, what does that get you? Nothing.”
Like Alabama football, the Washington and Lee men’s swim team has avoided complacency and achieved staggering success at the conference level. Whereas the Crimson Tide have won their last 10 SEC championship games, the Generals have won every Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship meet that they have participated in since joining in 2015, according to the ODAC archives.
The Generals have also boosted all nine of the ten 2024 First Team ODAC honorees, according to ODAC records, and retained their 400-meter freestyle relay team that set both meet and program records last year.
Although their previous season included various accolades and a top 25 ranking, the team is “looking towards bigger things this year,” said swimmer Cooper Tinsley, ’28.
“Our expectation is always an ODAC title. But on top of that, we are looking to be top 15 by the end of the year. That will require the whole team to be at its best, from the start of the season to NCAAs,” Tinsley said.
When asked about the strengths of this year’s team, Tinsley said, “We have a very deep (team). Everybody can contribute to multiple events.” With regard to specific races, Tinsley said, “If I had to pick, I’d say our 200 freestyle is our best event, and we have high hopes for the 4×200 relay this year.”
Outside of athletic ability, the men’s swim team has the intangibles to achieve greatness. Specifically, Tinsley emphasized the swim team’s chemistry.
“I think we are very close-knit, especially for how large we are,” he said. “We make sure to do things together and always support one another.” Outside of practices and lifts, W&L swimmers can be found eating meals, going to church and hanging out.
As far as achieving their goals this season, the men’s swim team is off to a great start. According to Jackson Brooks, ’28, their first two meets “have been a domination.” He elaborated that the team “blew Centre and Mary Washington out of the water.”
Next up, the Generals have a tougher test in Carnegie Mellon which Brooks calls, “a top program in DIII.”
When asked which meet Washington and Lee students should put on their calendars, Tinsley emphasized their meet against Johns Hopkins on Jan. 11 in Lexington.
“They have a great team and it’s going to be a battle. Probably our closest meet of the year,” Tinsley said.
Also, Tinsley said he expects Bridgewater College to be the Generals’ toughest competition in the ODAC.
This season, the W&L swim team will continue to strive for improvement—the key to overcoming complacency. Their season will continue this Friday, with a home swim meet against Southern Virginia University at 6 p.m. in the W&L Natatorium.
