Photo by: David Lorish
It was the most successful season in program history for the swimming and diving teams, capturing their first ever men’s Sun Belt Conference Championship title and sending two student-athletes to the NCAA’s.
The men broke every school record, and the women broke all but four and finished second in the SBC.
“It really is an amazing feat to think about,” head coach Brian Schrader said.
Seniors Michele Lowry and All-American Blake Worsley represented DU this month, ending their collegiate careers.
“I was really motivated by not only the coaches and my teammates,” Lowry said. “But also by Blake’s success. At NCAAs, I just wanted to go out there and represent my team and school well.”
Worsley, competing in the NCAA’s for the second consecutive year, finished No. 6 in the 500-meter freestyle, No. 9 in the 200-meter freestyle and No. 42 in the 100-meter freestyle.
“It was definitely the way I wanted to end my college career,” Worsley said. “I wish we could have gotten a relay there, but it was exciting things to see the program there.”
Lowry finished No. 33 in the 1650-meter freestyle and No. 27 in the 400-meter individual medley.
“It meant so much to me to compete at NCAA’s for my final meet. It was something that had motivated me all four years and something that I felt like rounded out a great four years here,” Lowry said. “I wanted to go out with a bang and it is a good feeling to know that I ended my career on a good note.”
Worsley, born in Vancouver, will be competing in the Canadian trials for the World Championships in July.
“It is always about getting better,” Schrader said. “Blake has found a way to do that every year of his career here, which really is a testament to him, and we are planning to have that trend continue.”
For Worsley, his time at DU has been about more than just individual success.
“I’m just starting something that’s going to bigger,” he said. “There’s going to be a bigger team getting there. Maybe not next year, but in the years to come.”
Worsley’s brother, Cole, will be attending DU as a swimmer in the fall.
“He has the same drive I have and sees the steps that come up next. Who takes that really propels it to the next level, further than where I can take them,” Worsley said.
With key seniors like Worsley and Lowry graduating in the spring, the team is hopeful about continuing the success the program has developed.
“Any program would have trouble replacing NCAA qualifiers in Blake and Michele,” Schrader said. “We have talented kids coming in that have potential to do what they did. What is hard to replace is their character. All of our seniors have provided great leadership and growth that has helped our program improve. We need to sustain that energy and keep it moving forward. Our incoming freshmen have talent, and hopefully the athletes on our team now will continue to provide competitive direction.”
