You Can Say that Again

"We showed a lot of heart but maybe it just weighed us down in the pool."

-Nate Insel,

Senior Swimmer

Rationalizing the Yeomen's defeat at the hands of the mighty Big Red of Denison University on Saturday, Nov. 6.

The Yeowomen return from sunny California to face the Spartans in the 1999-2000 home opener. Oberlin was ranked third by the NCAC coaches in a preseason poll.

(photo courtesy of S.I.D)

Could you guys introduce youselves?
PP: Hi I'm Paul,
JL: And I'm John.
PP: We are the men's swim team captains this year.
JL: Yes.

When did you guys start swimming?
PP: I was six and my mom threw me in the pool at the YMCA and I hated her for it. I love you, mom.
JL: I was dragged in the pool kicking and screaming for as long as I can remember.

Has there been someone to inspire you guys to pursue swimming?
JL: I joined my first swim team when I was seven because my best friend was joining.

So basically you're a follower?
JL: Yeah, I have no real willpower of my own. That was another factor. I was bad in every other sport.
PP: I swam and my coach didn't really like me that much because I wasn't very good. My high school coach Frank Hudson (get a plug in for him), sat down and started working with me and I dropped eight seconds my first year and it was really fun because my YMCA coach was at the meet and I just kinda laughed because he didn't pay attention to me because I'm good now.

How important is body image?
JL: Well, uh, I like to think of mine as a hustle. People tend to look at me and think there's no way I can swim fast, I'm not sure why.
PP: And then they get beat by the fat kid. So they get out and there like "Damn, I got beat by the fat kid!" I, myself go for the intimidation factor. I've been working out and I like to do a little flexing.

Paul, you've been labeled as a little "offbeat," even a little "kooky."
JL: Paul likes to run around the house with his pants around his ankles.
PP: You know you didn't have to say that, I wear my pants.
JL: When he's wearing his pants they're usually around his ankles.
PP: It also has to do with my Ultimate Frisbee nickname, because I play that too. My nickname is Danger Paul, because I danced in the cage on country night when I drank too much.

What's the farthest you ever swam as a kid?
JL: I was afraid of things like fish and seaweed, so I tried to stay as far inland as possible.
PP: Actually I'm afraid of any water that's not a pool or Lake Michigan, because I think there are sharks and sea monsters. There are!

What steps are you going to take to thwart powerhouses like Denison and Kenyon?
JL: We and Paul are both planning on undergoing shoulder surgery at some point. That's the only long-term plan we have. Other than that...
PP: We're coming up with some really exciting and adventurous new cheers.

NCAC championship will be held at Canton, not here this year. How will this affect the team?
JL: I think we came in second to last the last two years.
PP: We're looking for a new kind of advantage. I mean it's gonna suck because our friends can't come and we can't go home and sleep in our own beds. That means I'm probably gonna have to sleep with John. Again.
JL: Ooh, that hurts. That might be the biggest factor, the fact that I might have to sleep with Paul.
PP: Or other members of the team...

This Week's Events

Women's basketball

Friday at Santa Cruz Tournament (Calif.) 6 p.m.

Saturday at Santa Cruz Tournament (Calif.) 5 and 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 23 vs. Case Western Reserve 8 p.m.

Men's basketball

Friday at Capital University Tournament 4 p.m.

Saturday at Capital University Tournament 6 and 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 23 vs. Thiel College 6 p.m.

Swimming and Diving

Saturday, Nov. 20 at Wittenberg 5 p.m.

What are they talking about?

This week...

'Box out'

Sport: basketball

What it means: A player boxes an opposing player out when they position themselves between the opposing player and the basket to make it more difficult for their opponent to rebound a missed shot. Generally, this is accomplished by turning to face the basket and extending one's arms outward with the opposing player now behind you.