The Arkansas swimming team is off to a great start under second-year head coach Sean Schimmel. The Razorbacks took first at the North Texas Relay Invitational last weekend. They also dominated North Texas in a dual meet, earning first place wins in 14 of 16 events.
"We know what is expected from us," said Susanna White. "We are getting down to business and we know what to do. We have been getting a lot more done quicker."
"I think we started this year off at a much better place earlier on you know doing things at a high level all the time," said Schimmel. "They really started this season off that way."
Along with that hard work ethic, the Razorbacks believe experience and team chemistry will take them a long way this season.
"I mean I know swimming is an individual and team sport, but the comradery helps because you do it for each other," said Lizzy Whitbeck. "You're not only doing it for yourself you are racing for your team. You are racing for swimming and diving. You are racing for the University of Arkansas."
Last year Arkansas compiled a program best 10-1 regular season record. The team also broke eleven school records and earned a 26th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, the program's best since 1990.
"We didn't even know what some of us were capable of until last year and so we are just looking to do that again," said White.
"I think more importantly they are coming together as a team," said Schimmel. "We talk about the team we aspire to be and doing things better than we did last year is a part of that team."
"We want to break all of the records that we broke last year," said Aubrey Golbek. "We want to get people to NCAA's scoring relays. We kind of just set all of our goals one bar ahead of what we did last year."
Arkansas travels to LSU on Saturday for its first conference meet this season. The teams last met in October of 2008 and the Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 151-149.