Howard University’s Swimming & Diving team is gearing up for another exciting season. After a record-shattering year, the Bison look to continue their momentum going forward, a tough act to follow considering their dominance last season.
The men’s swimming & diving team comes off of a year in which they boasted a 5-1 record against regular opponents. They then showed out in the Northeastern Conference (NEC) Championship, breaking more than a dozen school records in the Freestyle, Breaststroke, individual medley and Relay competitions. Junior Luke-Kennedy Thompson was named the NEC Men’s Swimming & Diving Winter Scholar-Athlete of the Year, setting new Howard records for 500, 1000, and 1650-yard Freestyle. Junior Miles Simon also put on a performance, breaking a total of five Howard records individually, as well as the NEC meet record for the 50-meter Freestyle. Simon, sophomore Spencer Miles, junior Arion Solomon, and junior Mark-Anthony Beckles also together set a meet record for the 200-meter Free Relay. Head coach Nicholas Askew and the rest of the Howard Swimming & Diving staff were named the NEC Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year.
While the women’s swimming & diving team had a 3-4 record against their opponents, they shattered several records at the NEC Championship as well. All classes were present in the 800 Free Relay, as junior Courtney Connolly, freshman Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson, senior Madison Freeland, and sophomore Alana Josey collectively broke the Howard record for the race. The Bison finished No. 7 in the NEC Championship, overriding a total of nine previous Howard records. Individually, freshman Thompson set records for the 200-meter Breaststroke and Josey broke the 1650 Freestyle record.
The goal for the Bison next year is simple: Build upon what they established last season. A plethora of their impressive showings came from underclassmen who look to improve even further this year. The development of youth under solid coaching, paired with the return of key members from both teams, should lead to another season of immense production from the Howard swimming & diving teams.
Copy edited by Alana Matthew
