Facing the most difficult competition of the entire season, the Eastern men’s swim team received numerous lifetime best swims and were victorious at the season-ending Midwest Classic Championship held at the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis Natatorium Feb. 19-21.

Eastern accumulated 803 total team points to run away with first-place and the title. Western Illinois (685) and host Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (505) placed second and third respectively.

During the meet, Eastern broke several long school records. Freshman Bill Senese marked his name at the top of two school events with new records in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke. Senior Rich Wahlgren added to his legacy at Eastern winning three events at the “Classics” and breaking his own record in the 50-freestyle and setting a new best time in the 100-free.

“I thought we would need 90 percent lifetime best swims from the team in order to win,” Panther’s coach Ray Padovan said. “We didn’t get 90 percent, we got more like 99 percent lifetime bests.”

The win capped off a turnaround season after the men struggled in 2002-03 with a 6-4-1 record and a fourth-place finish at the Midwest Classics.

The Panthers started the 2003-04 dual meet season by dropping a close swim to Louisville 119-112 on Oct. 17. The very next day, Eastern evened their record at 1-1, squeaking past Xavier University (49-46). Eastern suffered their largest and last defeat of the season against Illinois-Chicago (143-100) the following weekend before going on a tear to win their last eight meets.

During the winning streak, the Panthers knocked off Saint Louis University twice, including a 17-point road win in November. Eastern also defeated Western Illinois and Valparaiso as their dual meet record grew to an impressive 9-2.

The Panthers were led all season long by Wahlgren, who finished his final year at Eastern with 23 individual victories. The Amos A. Stagg graduate won the 200-free 11 times, 100-free nine times, 50-free twice and the 500-free once. Wahlgren was also named the “Male Swimmer of the Meet” at the Midwest Classics.

“I was really happy for him to win in his final meet,” Senese, a teammate of Wahlgren’s in high school said. “He’s been like a mentor to me, and we’ve had a friendly rivalry all season, so to see him go out as a winner was nice.”

Wahlgren’s apprentice also had an amazing freshman season as he tied for second place with 19 individual victories. Senese led the Panthers with nine wins in the 50-free and added four more victories apiece in the 100 and 200-back. The Hickory Hills native was part of 18 winning relay teams, including two record breakers (200 and 400-free) at the Midwest Classic Championship.

Junior Tom Watson had a stellar season in the distance events for the Panthers. Watson finished tied with Senese at 19 victories, and he was part of the record breaking 400-free relay time in Indianapolis. Eleven of those 19 victories came in the 500-free, while seven more occurred in the 1000-free. At the “Classics” Watson nearly added to that win total but finished second in the 200, 400 and 1650-free.

Other key swimmers for the men were junior Eric Petersen (14 relay wins), freshman Tyson Beaman (four individual victories and nine relay wins) and freshman diver Dave Trabilsy (six diving victories).

The women were unable to repeat as champions at the Midwest Classic as they finished in third-place behind Miami (Ohio) and Northern Colorado. The women’s season will be remembered for their great second half in which the Panthers won four of five meets to finish the year 5-6 overall.

Senior Jordan Sherbrooke again was the best swimmer for the women winning 20 individual events. The Avon, Ind., resident will depart Eastern with four school records (200, 500, 1000 and 1650-free) and a member of one record holding relay team. This season, Sherbrooke won the 200 and 500-free seven times each and was tops in the 1000-free three times.

“She’s was the core of our team this year,” Padovan said. “Jordan set a bunch of records as a freshman and has been solid all four years. She was named the Most Valuable Swimmer at last year’s Midwest Classic and this year she won two of the three events she competed in.”

Sophomore Jenny Curry placed second on the Panthers with 11 victories. Curry heated up towards the end of the season with four wins in the last four events including two against Milikin University in January. Breaking down the victories, Curry won the 100-free six times, 50-free four times and the 200-free once.

Eastern also received a solid year from junior diver Lindsae Blades (nine victories), sophomore freestyler Claire Garvey (four wins) and freshman Marlise Davidson (five wins).

The women will return 24 swimmers while the men will bring back 21 members of their championship team with the thoughts of repeating already on their mind.

“Yeah, I really think we can repeat.” Senese said. “We have a good group of freshmen, sophomores and juniors returning and we’re bringing in a talented freshmen crew for next year.”