VIDEO | James Reindl, Anna Miram interviews
 
Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University swimming teams will open the 2020-21 season Saturday, venturing to Carson-Newman for a Bluegrass Mountain Conference dual meet at 12 noon (live video). The Bulldog swimmers open the 2020-21 WU athletic calendar with Saturday's competition, Wingate's first against an outside foe since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
"ADAPTING ON THE FLY…"
 
"Adapting on the fly is something athletics already teaches, along with life itself!" Wingate head coach Kirk Sanocki says. "The uncertainty is nothing new…navigating a virus has become the tricky part. Since the entire swimming and athletic community is faced with the same challenges, we've taken the approach to master a different set of obstacles on our way to growth."
 
"Our entire training platform revolves around controlling the things you can control," Sanocki says. "This year, it looks a bit different with our schedule shortened significantly. In the end, we believe that our primary focus of self-improvement through reflection and critical thinking…will have our swimmers one step closer to reaching their full personal potential during their time at Wingate…and we'll have some fun competing along the way!"
 
SCHEDULE
 
Following the Carson-Newman adventure, the Bulldog women host Queens Friday, Nov. 20 (5 p.m. start; live video). The Wingate men visit Queens Saturday, Nov. 21 (1 p.m. start). The Bulldogs conclude the 2020 portion of their schedule Dec. 16-18 when they host the Wingate Winter Fest Invitational.
 
The spring portion of the 2020-21 slate begins Friday, Jan. 15, when the Wingate women host Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne and UNC Pembroke (5 p.m. start). The Bulldog men compete the next day against Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory.
 
After a Senior Day home meet with Barton (Saturday, Jan. 23), the Bulldogs will enter championship season mode with the BMC championship meet, the Royal Open and the NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships. This year's NCAA national championship meet will be held in Birmingham, Ala. at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR
 
Unfortunately, the 2020 NCAA championship meet ended on night two (Thursday). Twenty-six WUSWIM student-athletes received College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-American recognitions (52 first team honors, 16 honorable mentions). Due to the cancellation of the NCAA championships, the CSCAA Board adjusted the selection criteria.
 
Twenty-five members of the Wingate University swimming program were named Scholar All-Americans, as named by the CSCAA. The 25 honorees were a school-record, surpassing the 19 student-athletes recognized in 2019 and 2017. In addition, both WU swimming teams were recognized as Scholar All-America teams by the same organization.
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
 
Wingate's seniors share their thoughts about starting the season…
 
Iran Almeida (Roanoke, Va.)
 
"The upcoming season is a special year for all of us. After much waiting, we finally can do what we do the best (SWIM FAST!). I do believe our men and women teams are ready to start the season well. Personally, this season is a different one for me. After 16 years of dedication to this incredible sport, I will finally finish my swimming career representing this team and school."
 
"The union, dedication, focus and hard work from this team are things that make it wonderful. I am proud of everyone on this team…they make the impossible possible. The upcoming competitions will bring great results with records being broken. Our swimmers will be honoring the team tradition. This is a winning team…WU WHAT? WU SWIM!"
 
Sara Aringsmann (Holzkirchen, Germany)
 
"After last season got cut short and a very different summer, words cannot describe how excited I am to finally start the new season and start racing with my teammates! Everyone had to overcome many difficult and new situations over the break, but now after a couple of weeks of training, the team already looks stronger than ever. During our intra-squad meet last weekend, it was great to see many people step up in their races. This makes me really excited…I cannot wait to see what this team can accomplish this year. The class of 2021 might not get a 'perfect' senior year from start to end, but we will make it one to remember. I'm thankful I can spend my senior year here at Wingate and honored to be able to compete with my WU Swim family."
 
Madelyn Carson (Pineville, La.)
 
"The beginning of the season has brought new challenges that the team has faced with enthusiasm and determination. The more challenges that arise, the stronger we become. This team is united with a common goal, to WIN! I believe that our team this year is stronger and more mentally resilient. We have a strong freshman class who brings great energy to the team…together we are preparing for victory. We are ready to show that our discipline and hard work will lead us to great success."
 
David Granados Doblas (Olot, Spain)
 
"This is the toughest season I have ever had because it has not been easy to stop and start practice over again, but the team has been outstanding dealing with this as well as the coaches. I think that all this Covid-19 situation has made the team even better and stronger. The practices are just getting better and better every week and I cannot wait for what is going to come next semester."
 
"We are getting started with competitions this weekend and the energy coming up for this meet and the next ones are amazing, even though we have a lot of new rules during competitions. I believe the team is reacting even better than what I thought. We all know that this season is not going to be normal, but we have to be together…working towards a common goal. This is going to translate into a better and more unified team for the future."
 
"I do not say this very often, but I am very proud of being able to be on this team, practice with this team and race with this team. I am completely sure that whatever happens along the way, we are going to do even better than what we think. WUWHAT? WUSWIM!"
 
Maike Hoener (team captain, Langlingen, Germany)
 
"This year definitely cannot be compared to previous years; however, we are coping with the ups and downs and the uncontrollable pretty well. This year of uncertainties has put us all to the test, made us grow and even brought us closer together. The team is looking strong and everyone is hyped that we are actually having a season. We will go into our first meet this weekend at Carson-Newman with a positive mindset…knowing that we will face them again at conference in February. I am certain that the hard work we've put in the last couple of weeks will pay dividends."
 
Kelley Jones ( Suwanee, Ga.)
 
"This pandemic has been a challenge that no one expected. It is difficult as an athlete to deal with all the uncertainty of practice, competition and our season. I decided to stay home for the (fall) semester…being apart from my team has been one of the most difficult challenges yet; however, this has not stopped me from training as hard as I can and seeing what the team has done at the intra-squad meet has pushed me to better myself even more so I can come back prepared for the spring."
 
"Even though I have been unable to join the team at school, I have been able to watch from afar the perseverance of the newcomers and returners as they lean on each other amid Covid-19. I have been inspired from their hard work and could not be prouder of this developing team. I know that during all the adversity, the team will come out stronger than ever. I cannot wait to join them in the spring to help them reach their full potential!"
 
Anne-Sofie Nissen (team captain, Copenhagen, Denmark)
 
"It is finally time to race again! I know that the team is and has worked so hard, both in and out of the water. I'm so excited for the first real meet to start this weekend. Everyone is ready to race…and the entire team has had a great start to the season despite all of the adjustments that have taken place."
 
"There have been ups and downs from the beginning, but the team has stayed positive and has really stepped up for this challenge with help from the coaches. This start of the season hasn't only been physically hard, but also mentally challenging. Everyone is there for each other, both in good times and bad. We can really feel that WU Swim is just one big family. I am proud to represent Wingate University Swimming and I can't wait to see what everyone can do in the pool! WU WHAT? WU SWIM!"

Gabriel Serafim (São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil)
 
"The beginning of a new season is always a time of excitement and a time for big challenges. The excitement to meet our new athletes and race for our team. The challenge of swimming without our veterans…and getting back on the student-athlete routine."
 
"This season has definitely been a special one, even though I have not been able to be with the team for the beginning of our season. I know that the returners have been passing our values to the newcomers and together they have been facing and succeeding with the new challenges that this season has presented. Because to me, Wingate Swimming means family. I can't wait to face whatever the challenge is with my family by my side."
 
Sydney Smith (Roanoke, Va.)
 
If there is one thing I have taken away from the pandemic sports-wise, it is that nothing is guaranteed. It is so important to take advantage of every moment, practice and race, because you never know if it will be your last. This year has been full of ups and downs, but the team has been together through every high and supported each other through every low. I know going into competition season we are stronger than ever and ready to seize every moment that we are given participating in the sport we love. I am proud to represent the Wingate Bulldogs for one last year and I can't wait to do it with my teammates by my side."
 
Jaimy Wenhold (Brookeville, Md.)
 
"Despite the countless challenges this year has presented us, it has only made the WUSWIM family grow closer as a team with a unified goal: putting our best foot forward and doing everything within our willpower to achieve greatness. Time and time again, throughout my four years, I have seen our team rise to the occasion against all odds and do amazing things. We still want to make this one of those years. With our teams' newest additions, as well as returners, I believe we have a team that stands strong, smart, confident and hungry. We are ready to race…we are ready to rise above expectations. WUSWIM is ready for a great season!"
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 36 undergraduate majors as well as six master's and four doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; and the College of Professional Studies, which includes the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Wingate is the leading healthcare education provider in western North Carolina, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Athletes on Wingate's 23 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 13 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.