Ravens swim team looks good at meet

Men win, women second in third competition of season 

by Katie DeRosa

  In preparation for their third meet of the season, enthusiastic members of the Ravens 
swim team got together for a cheer in which they belted out, "are you ready?" 

Indeed they were.

At their meet, taking place at Carleton Nov. 6, the Ravens succeeded in blowing their 
competition out of the water.

Solid swims for the Ravens men’s team helped them dominate the University of Ottawa Gee 
Gees and the Brock University Badgers. The women’s team had similar success over Brock 
but was narrowly defeated by Ottawa. Carleton lost by only two points. 

Carleton head coach John Waring was happy with the win.

"They’ve been training well and the results from the meet were good." 

Waring was impressed with the team’s noticeable improvement from the last meet, saying 
many swimmers posted season and personal best times. 

In just her first year on the team, Heather Macdonald took home the honour of best female 
swimmer with her time of 2:45.05 for her 200-meter breaststroke, which is 0.36 seconds 
off the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) standard.

Keegan Harris, in his fourth year on the team, had the best swim of the competition in 
the 100-meter breaststroke, with a time of 1:07.08, which was 1.32 seconds above the 
CIS mark. 

Waring is pleased with the turnout of swimmers this season as it is the biggest team 
Carleton has ever had. 

"This is not only the biggest team we’ve ever had but the hardest training team we’ve 
ever had," says Waring.

Most of the team trains six to seven times a week. 

Blair Tucker, coach for the University of Ottawa swim team, says in their second meet 
of the year, the Gee Gees are looking a lot better. 

"Its been a big improvement but we still have a long way to go," says Tucker.

Although obviously thrilled with their victory, Carleton’s biggest focus is their next 
meet at the divisional championships in Sudbury, Ont., Nov. 20. 

Men’s team captain Mark Blenkinsop stressed the importance of the team’s positive attitude. 

"Although it is an individual sport, it is a shared experience," says Blenkinsop. "That 
shared experience brings us together and having a positive attitude for one person will 
reflect on someone else and help them." 

"Everyone having a positive attitude will build upon each other." Blenkinsop says he is 
confident that the team has a chance of winning at the divisional championship.

Waring is "cautiously optimistic" about doing well and ranking high at the event. 

Last year the Ravens took third place in the divisional championships.