NEWS | Defending champions picked to win SAC swimming titles

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University men's and women's swimming teams begin the Kevin Hennessy era Friday evening, facing Queens University of Charlotte in a dual meet at the Levine Center. The first event is slated for a 5 p.m. Hennessy was named the new #WUSWIM head coach this summer, replacing 22-year veteran Kirk Sanocki.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate head coach Kevin Hennessy on his coaching philosophy

"I have always utilized the KISS philosophy…Keep it simple…I want our team to do things the right way. I believe our student-athletes can apply this philosophy to everything they hope to accomplish in life. In reality, everything they will accomplish usually has a simple solution, a basic starting place."
 
"I tell our student-athletes they must grind for everything they get. There are no handouts. Nothing will be given to them. Everything they accomplish in the pool and in life…they must earn."
 
Kevin Hennessy on the transition from associate head coach to head coach
 
"The team has responded very well to me. Obviously, many of them knew me as the associate head coach. Now they are getting to know me as the head coach. Every week is getting better and better. As we approach the season, we are starting to achieve a normal flow to our activities. Everyone has been fantastic so far!"
 
Wingate's team captains share their thoughts…
 
Wingate junior team captain Lucie Andrews
 
"WU Swim has another great year ahead of us and I'm very grateful and honored to have been given the opportunity to be a captain to the team alongside Hana Kubalova for the 2023-24 season! I'm excited to help drive us all to thrive together and motivate each other to create a great team environment and see the success that our hard work allows us to deserve. We had an amazing season last year and I can't wait to see what this group of talented and driven people are going to achieve this year! WU What? WU Swim!"
 
Wingate senior team captain Gabriel da Costa
 
"I am truly excited about this season and honored to be the captain of this incredible team. The friendship and the dedication I see among us is inspiring. Moving forward, I am eager for the challenges we'll overcome and the victories we'll achieve together…here's to a memorable and successful year ahead! WU WHAT? WU SWIM!"
 
Wingate senior team captain Hana Kubalova
 
"I am very thrilled to be chosen as a captain along with Lucie Andrews for the 2023-24 season. I'm excited to push through the limits and thrive together as a team because we have a great group of girls this season. As a senior, I am very excited to see what we can achieve inside and outside of the pool as a team, while holding each other accountable and always being there for each other! WU What? WU Swim!!"
 
Wingate junior team captain Kevin Rusu
 
"I am very thankful that the team has voted me as their captain. It is an honor to represent this amazing team. I feel very good about this season and I can't wait to see the team competing this year. As a captain, I will give everything to push my teammates to their limits, so we can become better as a whole team. Congratulations to the other captains Lucie, Gabriel and Hana for their selection as well. I am very sure that we can achieve something great this year!"
 
Schedule Highlights
Complete 2023-24 #WUSWIM schedule

Wingate closes out its first semester schedule with three multi-team meets: the Emory Invitational (Nov. 3-4), the Queens Fall Frenzy (Nov. 17-19) and the SCAD Savannah Invitational (Nov. 30-Dec. 2). The Bulldogs host Barton for Senior Day Saturday, January 20, 2024 in the Wingate University Natatorium, completing their 2023-24 regular season.
 
The postseason begins in February, when Wingate competes in the South Atlantic Conference Swimming Championships Feb. 14-17 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Bulldogs are the defending SAC champions for both men and women. The 2024 NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships are March 12-16 in Geneva, Ohio.

Looking back at 2022-23
 
- Miguel Marcos was named SAC Swimmer of the Meet as WU won men's title
- Daniel Mizera ('23) won the SAC Elite 23 Award for men's swimming
- Kate Agger ('22) was named SAC Swimmer of the Meet as WU won women's crown
- Franziska Muhlberger received SAC Freshman of the Year laurels
- Then-WU head coach Kirk Sanocki won both SAC Coach of the Year trophies
- The WU women finished sixth of 39 schools who scored points at the '23 NCAAs
- The Bulldog men took eighth of 33 teams who tallied points at the '23 NCAAs
- FYI: 101 schools sponsor D2 women's swim, while 76 offer D2 men's swim
 
Wingate Swimming quick facts
 
- Wingate has 45 NCAA national championship swims lifetime (31 women, 14 men)
- At NCAAs, the WU women have earned second place once (2016) and third twice
- The 'Dogs have earned fifth place at NCAA men's meet once with five sixth-place showings
- WUSWIM student-athletes have earned Academic All-America® at-large team honors 36 times (20 men, 16 women)
- The Bulldogs swept the inaugural SAC championships in '23, winning both titles
- WU won 11 Bluegrass Mountain Conference crowns (seven men's, four women's) while BMC members

Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five 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, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 15 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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