The Ursinus Swim team is preparing to participate in the Centennial Conference Championships this weekend at Franklin & Marshall College. Swimmers on the Men’s and Women’s teams are gearing up to take on the upcoming swim meet with pure excitement and confidence. With the regular season at
a close, the only thing left for the teams is keeping their eyes on the prize: success at the championships!
One member of the Women’s team, Morgan Valeriano ’27, shares what she is most eager for, stating, “I am mostly excited about going into championships, with a few nerves. I feel prepared and ready more than anything!” Valeriano had a great season, leading the Bears in several meets including against Misericordia University and Kutztown University with 1st place finishes in
the 400-yard IM, 100-yard freestyle, and 100 butterfly against Misericordia, and the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard breaststroke, and 200 IM against Kutztown. When asked about the team energy leading up to the conference championships, Valeriano stated, “The team energy has been high, and I think we are all excited to see all the hard work come to show at this meet. We are all in it together keeping everybody excited and motivated at practices.”
Fellow teammate Melanie Hahn ’27 shares this sentiment, exclaiming, “I’m feeling really excited going into championships because the whole team has been swimming really well in practice and is prepared to race!” Hahn herself had a strong season, gaining a 1st place finish in the 200 breast at one of the Bears recent meets against Stevens Institute of Technology. Hahn takes a look back on the Bears’ training trip in Florida, sharing, “We had a great training trip in Florida where we took our training to the next level and bonded really well as a team.”
Leading up to the long-awaited meet, practices have looked a little different than the regular season practices. “Practices have been getting shorter but [we] have been maintaining our speed while also focusing on keeping our bodies rested. Practices have been very upbeat with lots of cheering and singing as we are all approaching our last few practices as a team together, just trying to soak it all in!” explained Valeriano. Men’s swimmer Jan Perez-Bonilla ’25 further explained, “With less time spent in practice, we’ve been doing more team activities on campus, like watching other sporting events or attending bingo nights. These moments help us relax, stay connected, and build even stronger ties before the big meet.”
Teammate Dan Salimov ’27 also expressed his thoughts on practices, detailing, “Right now practices are looking short, with some speed, and a little pacing and technique work. Going into our last few days, we will have shorter practices and be fully rested for this conference championship.” With practices aimed towards preparation, Hahn feels it is helping them build up their confidence. “To prepare for championships, we’ve been rehearsing our races in practice and gaining lots of confidence. I can’t wait to see all of our hard work pay off next week!”
For the seniors on the team, the upcoming meet will be a bittersweet one. “My teammates have been talking about the championships since the very first day of the season because of how electrifying the atmosphere is, and now it’s less than a week away. The excitement has been building from the start, and we’re all pushing each other through these last few practices to stay pumped. Since our team is small, everyone is stepping up and contributing, strengthening our bond,” expresses Perez-Bonilla. “We’ve put in the work, and now it’s about trusting the process and enjoying every moment. As a team, we are not just focused on fast swims but also on making sure to have fun, keep the energy high, and create memories that will last beyond this season. For us seniors, it is bittersweet, but we’re embracing every second and making sure to leave it all in the pool.”
With so much to gain, and nothing to lose, the teams are ready to take on the challenge of the championships! “We put in a lot of hard work, and we believe it’s going to be shown this week. The horses are ready for racing,” shared Salimov. With high hopes and confidence, the team is ready to tackle the challenge.
“More than anything, I’m excited to compete, have fun, and create lasting memories with my team. In the end, I may forget my times, but I’ll always remember the moments I shared with my team at championships,” shares Perez-Bonilla, inspiring advice for any team preparing for conference competition!