For the first time in three years, the Terrapin men’s and women’s swimming teams will stay home for the holidays.
Rather than traveling for training during winter break, the Terps are off beginning Dec. 17 and will resume practice 11 days later at the Campus Recreation Center Natatorium in preparation for a home meet Jan. 14-15.
“It’s kind of a bummer that we’re not going anywhere, especially since it’s my senior year,” senior Erik Weinberg said. “But we have a great pool to train in, so you can’t complain.”
The Terps trained in Colorado last season and New Mexico the previous year. Terp head coach Jim Wenhold said the money usually spent on winter break trips was used for additional scholarships this season.
The increased focus gained by staying on the campus replaces traveling’s excitement.
“We need to get our [endurance] back,” Weinberg said. “Everyone dreads it, but it’s something that’s necessary.”
The final home meet of the season will break up the Terps’ usual intense training, as the team will compete against Pittsburgh, Villanova and N.C. State. The men will focus on the Wolfpack since it has the most similar talent, besides Duke.
The women – who had a strong first half of the season and a solid performance in last month’s Terrapin Cup Invitational – eye the final home meet as an ACC season tuneup.
“We’re going to kick butt,” senior Marina Mulyayeva said. “We’ll have to swim faster times, but I’m sure we can do it.”
Conference meets begin at Duke on Jan. 28 and continue the next day when the Terps compete at North Carolina.
Until then, the Terps will practice twice a day, with more team outings mixed into the winter break schedule. Activities such as bowling and special dinners are being planned for the team, Wenhold said.
“We had a good first half of the year, and I think everyone’s looking to build on that,” Wenhold said. “This is the time to do that.”
