Head coach Brad Bowser said his team is going through battle before they even take to the lanes next week at the NCAA Division III Championships (NCAA’s). They’re fighting sickness and the elements but he isn’t worried.

They are coming off some of their best performances at the Metropolitan Conference Championships (METS) and expect to follow that up in the biggest meet of the year. He also said the women are a level-headed group and are even helping to keep the men’s team focused since they all practice together as one unit.

Five women will be swimming at NCAA’s. Carlee Timmins will be competing in the 500, 200 and mile free. Abigail Brous, Emily Kopchick, Daria Mnich and Miranda Coughlan will make up the 200 medley relay. They’ll also compete in the three other relay events.

The 200 medley had an incredible METS meet and Bowser said he needs them to carry that performance over to NCAA’s. He says they’ll all have to come together and connect to have the swim of their lives this weekend.

As for Timmins, she has been doing distance training that would make the average person tired from reading it. Bowser said she has been swimming 3,000 to 4,000 yards in increments in under an hour. He’ll have her lower her yardage in the coming days to physically prepare for the meet.

Bowser’s preparation isn’t just physical, however. He’ll play motivational speeches for his team to give them the extra drive and fire for the meet.

“I’m a big believer in Jim Valvano,” Bowser said. “I think his message is really good. Every time I’ve seen him talk his motives and his ideas of how to anticipate and how to go after something is just remarkable. And what he was able to accomplish as a young basketball coach to then becoming a standout broadcaster. He’s probably one of those guys that I like to listen to in terms of public speaking because he always has a motive to motivate in not giving up and seeing the outside part of life.”

These inspiring words to motivate them to make the jump from good to great and great to elite, paired with intense training followed by a time to recover, can have the Profs in a position to shock other teams next weekend.

NCAA’s will be held in Greensboro, North Carolina next Wednesday from March 20 through March 23.

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