The Eastern men’s swim team has been a powerful force with seven wins, one tie and only two losses this season.

One member of this powerful team is Rich Wahlgren. Wahlgren is a junior who swims 50 M and 100 M freestyle.

Wahlgren said many people on the team have been sick this year, including himself. Wahlgren contracted mononucleosis last year and was unable to swim during winter break when the swim team competed in Florida. He said because of mono, he was not able to practice and could not compete as hard as he had wanted to.

This year he is healthy. Despite his sickness last year, he was able to break the 50 M freestyle conference record (21.33).

This year, he hopes to break his own record again. He also is hoping to break the 100 M freestyle sprint. Wahlgren is confident he will break both of the records at the conference meet in three weeks.

Fellow team members have great respect for him and confidence in his return.

“Rich’s determination is an inspiration for all of us,” sophomore freestylist Tom Watson said.

Wahlgren does not help his team with his outstanding times alone, he also pushes his teammates to perform better.

“Rich pushes the rest of the team to do their best, and he is a good leader,” sophomore butterfly swimmer Paul Luttinen said.

Wahlgren has earned the admiration of some of his teammates for his performances as well.

“Rich is my idol because I want to swim the events he does, but I can’t and he swims them very well. And since I live with him, he is always pushing me even outside the pool,” senior freestylist and co-captain Nic Cheviron said.

The men’s team is not the only squad making a splash, however. The women’s team is heading into the conference meet with an 8-2 record. One of the team’s key swimmers in these wins is junior Jordan Sherbrooke.

Sherbrooke is a mid-distance freestyle swimmer. Her main events are the 200 M and 500 M freestyle.

As a freshman, Sherbrooke set four school records. In her sophomore year, she broke her own 500 M and 1,650 M freestyle records.

“I did not break my 200 freestyle record yet,” Sherbrooke said. “My goal for this year is to better that time from my freshman year.”

Sherbrooke said she doesn’t know what she will be swimming in their upcoming conference meet because she has also been swimming the 100 M and the 200 M breaststroke.

Sherbrooke said she will be swimming in two relays at conference, the 400 M and the 800 M freestyle relays.

“The 800 free relay has a chance to break the record again at the conference meet, and the 400 free relay will be a strong relay,” Sherbrooke said.

Sherbrooke’s teammates also support her and they believe she is headed for big things.

“Jordan is a strong swimmer who makes a big contribution to the team, and she is going to be one of the top swimmers next year,” Senior freestylist Allison Kenney said. “She will have a big role to fill.”