Le Moyne College has made the decision to go Division 1, which is a big jump for all of Le Moyne athletics. Many teams are or have been going through a period of change. The Swimming and Diving team in particular has experienced several changes over the last few years, and now has to navigate the role of being a D1 team. 

In just the last few years the men’s and women’s Swimming and Diving team has gone through many changes, some of which include; acquiring a new head coach, several roster changes, transitioning to D1, and bringing in 19 new team members for the 2023-2024 season. 

So, how has this affected the team? 

Logan Fetterman, a senior swimmer from Binghamton provides us with some insight. “It’s been strange and uncomfortable having a new coach last year, and now a brand new program,” she states. “Everything is changing all at once and it has not given us a lot of time to adjust” Fetterman stresses how it feels as if the changes are never-ending with no time to adjust. She is also hopeful that the team can get to a place where we feel like we “ know what we are doing and have a grasp on swimming.” 

Between having a new head coach just last year, to the unanswered rumors that Le Moyne was potentially transitioning to D1, Fetterman states that she “wasn’t expecting Le Moyne to go D1, so I didn’t want them to go D1 for my last year of swimming because I thought it would bring a lot of new atmospheric pressure and challenges that might not be the most memorable for my last year.”

Even freshman Victoria Hewitt from Fulshear, Texas says that she “heard rumors about Le Moyne going D1, but wasn’t sure whether or not they were 100% true.” When Fetterman heard of the news that Le Moyne made the jump her expectations grew to believe that “the program was going to be a lot tougher and more challenging both in practice and competition” and Logan states she was right except that “it is a lot tougher than I even imagined, especially in practice.” 

On the other hand, most of the younger athletes are more excited about the jump to Division 1. Freshman Michael Han from Auckland, New Zealand states that he wanted Le Moyne to go D1. Han believes that “an innocuous change in numbers brings a whole new slew of changes to the school… such changes would also require stepping up from me, too.” Hewitt also states that she “didn’t have any negative feelings toward Le Moyne going D1 and was excited when I found out but didn’t really know what that entailed for the team or school”. When they heard the news that Le Moyne made the jump, Han states he was ecstatic and that “part of the reason I came to the U.S. was for opportunities, lo and behold, one presented itself to me.” His father, Han says, is one of his biggest advocates and was just as excited to hear the news. 

Since the season officially started, Hewitt believes that “it’s been a learning experience for the whole team with all of the new territory as a Division 1 school, but I also think that the experience has made us closer”. Hewitt also states that “overall it’s been a very positive experience”

On the other hand, Michael Han says that he “expected to be wrung out every week… certainly, I can say that my expectations have been matched.” Han also goes on to explain how he is very pleased with his progress so far. 

As the swimming and diving team ignites their journey in the transition to Division 1, it is made clear how these big changes have affected the athletes mentally and physically. However, swimmers seem to believe that it has brought the team closer together and changed the mentality of many. Change may be uncomfortable, but they believe it is also good — and that Dolphins always swim together.