Famous poet Robert Frost once said, “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
Despite this week’s coaching change, the Bobcats’ season will go on.
“We’re looking forward to coming together as a team,” coach Derick Roe, who will serve as the team’s head coach for the remainder of the season, said. “Rallying behind each other and the main objective is to stay focused at the task at hand and stay focused on our goals for the season.”
The Bobcats will swim at home for the first time this season against Buffalo and will seek to advance to 2-0 on the year, after overcoming Ball State 162-138 last week.
“We’re gonna go out there and do the best we can,” distance swimmer Bianca Hauzer said. “It’s been a rough week for all of us, pretty emotional. It’s tough competition, (Buffalo) is not a bad team, so it’ll be a good, competitive meet.”
Barring the coaching change, the team has also been dealing with multiple injuries, including junior Stephanie Gyruke, who’s been dealing with a shoulder injury and senior Laurin Williams, who has a minor foot injury.
“There’s always going to be injures,” Roe said. “Injuries and athletics go together. We trying to move past that and we’re the healthiest we’ve ever been.”
Junior Haleigh Bartlett will look to dominate the diving board again as she placed first in both the one-meter and three-meter dive last meet.
Roe also said that he expects senior Kristin Capcik to improve from her third place finish against Ball State.
“She’s a varsity record holder,” Roe said. “It’s early in the year, so like in swimming, you’re not as on point, not as sharp. We’re tired and so it sometimes hard to execute, but coming down the stretch of the season your body get’s healthier and more fit.”
Buffalo, which features seven seniors on its roster, lost its season opener to Toledo, 192-100 last week.
Last year at the Mid-American Conference Championship, Ohio finished second, ahead of Buffalo.
“I think the practice we’ve done is good enough,” Hauzer said. “I think it’s just getting up there and racing them and not being afraid. We’re looking to gain confidence.”
lr514812@ohiou.edu
@Lukeoroark
