Photo: Millie Schreibman

In preparation for the approaching season, swim team captains Briana Purkapile, Annie Jones, Rob Eisendrath and Josh Scheuermann drafted teams on Saturday to compete against each other. Included in the selection process were several alumni who were invited to participate in the Maroon and Black Intersquad/Alumni Meet in the El Pomar Natatorium.

The four captains were responsible for deciding what events took place, the distance of the event and creating a lineup of athletes to compete in those events. Head coach Ron Allen explained that putting the captains in the role of the coaches for a meet helps them work together rather then resorting to their coaches.

“I do it mostly as a learning experience for them,” Allen said. “It lets them see what it’s like to have to go through that process, but it’s also for team bonding. They have to sit and talk with each other as opposed to coming straight to a coach.”

The team opened its doors to alumni for the first time in hopes that they get to meet the current athletes and compete against collegiate competition again.

“It was a way to reach out and appreciate them,” Allen said. “In the future I would like to make it more formal, but I was happy to be able to reach out to them.”

The events were a measuring stick for the coaches to see where their team is, as far as conditioning goes, before they open the season next week. The Mavs will be hosting the Intermountain Shootout on Friday and Saturday and will compete against Air Force and BYU.

mfreter@mavs.coloradomesa.edu