Times are dropping and egos are rising as the Eastern Illinois men’s 400 and 800 yard relay team continue to help the team as four athletes have assumed the role of Eastern Illinois A – the A-team.

The 400 and 800 relay teams are comprised of four swimmers: junior Nic Cheviron, freshman Tom Watson, sophomore Rich Wahlgren and junior Josh Kercheval. The four set the meet record for both relays in the Panther Invitational last weekend, and they all share the same passion for swimming.

Watson, an 18-year-old Industrial Technology major, has been swimming since the tender age of eight and was lured here by three deciding factors.

“First it was swimming, next was the major and last it was Josh,” Watson said.

“The first time here I knew [I would come here].”

Swimming at Eastern is a world apart from his days at University High in Normal.

“I like the team being larger,” Watson said. “EIU is way bigger than high school and … the events are harder because I am learning to swim longer events.”

As a freshman coming on to a team of seasoned swimmers, he seems to be handling the transition well and fitting in great with the team.

“I am here for the experience and for making friends,” Watson said. “If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t be doing it.”

As for Wahlgren, he has been swimming as long as he can remember and was sure he was going to attend Eastern.

“I pretty much came her for Jon Jelly,” Wahlgren said. “He was my