The Eastern Illinois swim program improved dramatically in the fall of 1998 by heading south.

It had nothing to do with a rebuilding year and letting younger swimmers compete, but rather the improvement came from information head coach Ray Padovan received on a high school senior named Josh Kercheval who was swimming just south of Charleston for a Decatur club.

Through word of mouth and reading Kercheval’s impressive swim times, Padovan knew he had found a talent. The only problem was getting Kercheval to attend Eastern. Padovan recruited him heavily and Kercheval became a Panther in 1999.

“He was highly recruited by me and we had to recruit him,” Padovan said. “People like that just don’t walk through the door.”

Four years later, as Kercheval prepares for his final race at Eastern, his mark has been left on a program depending on his ability day in and day out.

“He is one of the top three swimmers I have coached here at Eastern,” Padovan said. “Anywhere from one to three; he is that good.”

It is quite a compliment coming from a coach who has resided in Charleston for the last 37 years and has seen 24 All-Americans come and go. However, the numbers never lie.

Even as a freshman, Kercheval made an immediate impact with his performances and his leadership abilities.

“He was pretty good when he arrived here (from high school), but he got much better as a freshman,” Padovan said. “His leadership qualities came right away. When Josh is in the pool, he is there for one reason and that is to win, and others picked up on that.”

Kercheval really came into his own last year when he set four school records and led the Panthers to their best season ever. Eastern was a perfect 12-0 in dual meets and captured its first Midwest Classic Championship.

It was at the Midwest Classic Championships last year where Kercheval etched his name in the Panther record books. He was part of three-school records that weekend, including the fastest time (1:54.03) in the 200-yard backstroke. For his efforts, Kercheval was named Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Midwestern Classic Conference.

Kercheval became a captain for the first time this season and started the year where he finished the 2001-02 season by winning races.

In the season opener against Louisville, Kercheval won the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard backstroke.

“Josh swam well today but in a few weeks he will be facing tougher competition,” Padovan said after the Louisville meet. “He needs to continue to swim well in order to win.”

Padovan was alluding to a tough meet against Illinois-Chicago on Oct. 26, 2002. Kercheval lived up to his coach’s challenge and helped the Panthers extinguish the Flames 124-112.

Kercheval won two individual races (medley and backstroke) and also anchored the Panthers first-place 400-yard free relay team.

Just one week later Kercheval did it again, this time helping the Panthers to a first-place finish at the EIU Invitational. Kercheval’s three winners in the 200-yard individual medley, 400-yard individual medley and the 200-yard backstroke gave Eastern an easy win in its home tournament.

After the meet, Padovan had nothing but praise for his talented senior.

“For quite a while he has been our best swimmer,” Padovan said.

“He usually out-distances the competition, and that is what happened today.”

While Padovan seemed ecstatic over his senior’s strong performance Kercheval took the wins in stride.

“I’m kind of in a place where if I swim well that (winning) is going to happen,” Kercheval said.

In a must win meet against the Butler Bulldogs Dec. 8, 2002,

Kercheval led the Panthers by winning the 200-yard backstroke and the 400-yard individual medley and helped the Panthers to a commanding 162-84 victory. The 78-point victory was the second largest of the season and could not have come at a better time according to assistant coach Bill Yanney.

“It was very important to come back with a victory after the loss (to Saint Louis) last week,” Yanney said. “Josh swam a couple of great races for us and came up big.”

Two moths later on Feb. 8, 2003, Kercheval finished the regular season strong by winning two races on Senior Recognition Night in a rematch with the Saint Louis Billikens. While his performance was not enough to give the Panthers a winner, he was tops in the 200-yard backstroke and the 1000-yard freestyle.

“Josh was exceptional on a very emotional night,” Yanney said.

“He was one of only two swimmers that won two races on the day.”

This weekend as the Panthers prepare for the season ending Midwest

Classic Championships, Kercheval will be counted on to bring home a second consecutive title.

“We expect him to swim well because the competition will be

improved,” Padovan said. “He will be part of his usually races (200, 400 IM and 200-yard backstroke) and he will compete in the maximum four or five relays.”

As Kercheval’s tenure with the Panthers comes to an end he has left his mark on the program in more ways then just setting numerous school records and helping the Panthers to last years Midwest Classic Championships. Kercheval is largely responsible for bringing in some of the Panthers younger talent, most notably Tom Watson.

Watson, a sophomore from Bloomington, Ill., was lured to the school by the record-setting Kercheval.

“I picked Eastern for three reasons,” Watson said. “The first was

swimming, the second was my major and the third was Josh.”

Padovan already realizes he can not replace Kercheval’s ability and leadership next year but he believes new recruits and teammates will step up to fill the large void left by Kercheval.

“You don’t replace him,” Padovan said. “You just hope recruits

and other people come through.”

With the success of Kercheval it appears that in rare cases going south can be beneficial. Just ask Padovan and the Eastern swim program.