As the Kentucky swimming and diving team begins the 2014-15 season Oct. 10 at home vs. South Carolina, the formula for the Wildcats and second-year head coach Lars Jorgensen is simple: keep getting better.
When Jorgensen assumed head-coaching duties a year ago and began building the program, it did not take long for the student-athletes to buy into the coaching staff’s approach. As the season progressed, the improvement and energy was hard to miss.
It was clear the team was improving, and that continues as Jorgensen builds the program in his second season at the helm.
“Keep getting better, each and every year, that’s our goal,” Jorgensen said. “For each individual athlete to get better and for our team to get better, that’s what we’re looking for. We want to compete at the SEC and NCAA Championships at a higher level.”
The Wildcats ended the 2013-14 season on a strong note, as eight athletes earned All-America honors and the women’s team finished 28th at the NCAA Championships, both totals the best since 2008. Swimmer Christina Bechtel in the 200 butterfly and diver Christa Cabot on 3-meter each reached the podium and earned top-eight finishes to highlight UK’s postseason.
Coming off a strong showing at the USA Swimming 2014 National Championships, where Bechtel and Danielle Galyer earned a spot on the U.S. National and Junior National teams, respectively, Jorgensen is excited for what’s to come in year two.
“We had a great first year and I’m really happy with how we swam this summer at US Nationals,” Jorgensen said. “Now we just need to continue to move forward and improve this year. I think there’s a lot to look forward to. It’s a work in progress, but every week in practice we’ve gotten better and that’s all we want. We want to get better every week in practice leading up to the SECs and the NCAAs in the spring.
A trademark of last year’s team was its energy and unquestionable work ethic, which played directly into the Wildcats’ continued growth.
Six of the 10 Wildcats that made the NCAA Championships last season return in 2014-15, including four All-Americans. Anchored by a strong leadership core, the work ethic and passion from last year has carried over into this season, and the newcomers, 29 in all, that will play a vital part in the team’s success this year have caught on quickly.
“We’re fortunate to have a lot of upperclassmen leaders that have really helped with the direction of our program, in and out of the pool,” Jorgensen said. “Our men’s team is very young and our women’s team has a very nice balance of veteran leadership and newcomers.
“I’m very excited about seeing some of the freshmen develop on both men’s and women’s teams, there’s some talent there. They’ve been working hard as we get them up to speed with our upperclassmen, it’s been fun. The veterans, you have a pretty good idea of what they need to do, we feel really good about that and making sure the freshmen gel with the team.”
The 2014-15 Wildcats — both upperclassmen and newcomers — will have a slight advantage over last year. Not only will everyone be more familiar with the coaching staff, but the team will compete at home twice as much as last season.
The Wildcats will host four meets on five days in 2014-15 at the Lancaster Aquatics Center, three against SEC foes. Along with Friday’s home opener, UK hosts Florida, the men’s SEC champion in 2014, on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. and a senior day matchup with in-state rival Louisville on Jan. 24.
Not only will the team be able to compete in a familiar environment in front of the home crowd, but the time spent traveling will be cut back, allowing the athletes to get more rest, miss less class and stay fresh.
“Last year it seemed we were on the road all the time, so we’re just excited to be home,” Jorgensen said. “It’s so much easier with academics and travel to be at home. We’re starting off the season with two SEC teams, it doesn’t get any more exciting than that.”
Kentucky made great strides in Jorgensen’s first season, but Jorgensen and the Wildcats are still hungry for more.
When fans cheer on the Wildcats in 2014-15, they’ll see a UK team that’s continuing to grow and get better, with plenty of energy and eager to break more new ground.
