The men and women of the U’s swimming and diving team experienced a significant leadership change this year — aside from the graduating seniors.
After helping the U women’s team to the top regular-season record and a second-place finish at the Mountain West Conference Championships, steering the men’s team through a rebuilding phase, head coach Mike Litzinger bolted to Tobacco Road to take the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina.
The U replaced Litzinger with Greg Winslow.
The former Arizona State assistant has a reputation for developing championship-level swimmers. While at ASU, Winslow helped 12 swimmers reach All-American status, and four of his swimmers even qualified for the Olympic trials.
But no matter what Winslow’s reputation is, many members of the swimming and diving team will miss Litzinger.
“He really cared about the team,” said junior Kelly McIntyre. “Each individual mattered to him,”
However, they also look forward to the freshness Winslow will bring to the program.
“He knows what he is doing and he also makes it fun,” McIntyre said.
Winslow will try to help the women do what Litzinger could not help them accomplish last year.
After going undefeated with an 8-0 conference record and a 10-0 overall record, the women fell to BYU at the conference championships.
“That was disappointing, we got that taken from us,” McIntyre said. “It did not all come together at the end the way we wanted it to.”
Despite the setback last year, optimism surrounds the women’s team again.
“We had a good recruiting year, McIntyre said. “I would expect us to win the conference.”
The men, on the other hand, struggled for most of the season, finishing second-to-last in conference play by posting a 2-3 record and 5-6 record overall.
“We were in a building phase,” said sophomore Adam Oliver. “We had a lot of talent but we never came together.”
Though the men’s team struggled to be much of a threat throughout the season, the men are confident in their potential for the upcoming season.
“The incoming freshman class gives us a chance to be a contender in conference,” Oliver said. “With a new coach coming in, his passion and energy will help us achieve our goals.”