By Nick Konotopskyj
Contributing Writer
Last Friday, the Bonnies looked for their third straight victory in 2015 but fell short at The University at Buffalo, 160-132. This marks the Bonnies’ first loss at a dual meet since facing La Salle in Ohio on Nov. 1.
Although it fell short, this team understands the Atlantic 10 Tournament is what matters in the end.
“The dual meet season is like a dress rehearsal for what comes two weeks from now,” Coach Sean McNamee said. “It’s nice to be competitive in them, but many times, you are looking for more out of it. Our win-loss record, in all honesty, isn’t of much concern. We are focused for being at our peak at A-10’s.”
Prior to the meet, the Bonnies knew they would have an advantage in the relays, and their success showed how tough they can be going forward.
“The relay was very solid. I think it was our best time of the season,” sophomore Michael White said. “That final relay showed us what’s to come. We’ve been preparing about a week out from that meet for A-10’s, and now, these next two weeks is just putting the cherry on top.”
Michael White, a sophomore marketing major from Phoenix, Arizona, has really stepped up this season, according to McNamee.
“He solidified some areas and gives us some needed swims and actually improved on some stuff that improves our placing going into championships,” McNamee said.
Moving forward, the Bonnies have less than two weeks before A-10 Championships at Spire Institute in Ohio. Preparation and staying focused is the name of the game until Feb. 18.
“It’s very complicated at this point of the year where the simple equation is train hard during the season, rest during this phase, then you swim fast,” McNamee said. “A lot of the ownership falls on the individual, and they need to be mature to make wise decisions on a day-to-day basis. Now, it’s a matter of making sure that we get everyone the proper rest and fine-tuning necessary for us to be at our peak come two weeks from now.”
At this point of the season, it is a matter of making sure the team is healthy and ready going forward, according to Michael White.
“We have put in a ton of work up to this point, so now it’s all about cleaning up technique and working on the little things to improve our speed and efficiency in the water,” White said.
There is a lot of hype around this team’s quest for the three-peat, which has never happened in school history. According to White, no one wants this title more than the senior class.
“Our senior class is the only class that has ever lost on this team right now, so I know they hate losing more than any of us know about because we have won it the last two years,” White said. “None of us want to experience that, so we are really pushing to hit that three-peat and send our seniors out with a bang.”
With the A-10 Conference as strong as it is, McNamee anticipates the competition to be tough in two weeks.
“We stack up pretty well with everybody,” McNamee said, “I can see this being a four-team dog fight for three and a half days, which is the way you want it.”
