Growing

Glendora, CA -- When the 2014 swim season kicks off later today, the Citrus College Women's Swim team will be in their second year of competition after a few years absence. With a year under their belt, the Owls will be looking to improve their overall performance from last season, and have the tools to continue to grow and be successful when the end of the season comes along.

"We really want to build on the success and momentum the team enjoyed last season.  Given that it was a program's first season back after a few year absence, I though they performed very well.  This season I'd like to see the athletes take another step forward in their performance and be even more competitive within our conference," Head Swimming Coach Andrew Silva said. "Last season the team held its own during the conference meets, but fell a little short at our conference championships at the end of the season. This year, I'm expecting the team to perform better as a group and as individual swimmers during our last competitions of the season."

The Owls boast a deep roster that will play into their strengths as the season goes along. The more swimmers that are in the water, the more opportunities there are to score points for the team.

"Last season our strength was our depth, and this year will have a great number of swimmers competing in multiple events again.  The difference this season is that our faster swimmers are much stronger than they were a year ago, and we have a few new athletes to the program who are much quicker than those swimmers who have moved on since last season," Silva said. "We will continue to be a team that utilizes our depth to score points in several events, but this year we will also have a number of swimmers who are in the mix to win events and make our relays more competitive."

As all teams, the Owls will have room for improvement as the season wears on. One such challenge will be to put the right swimmers in the right events, to maximize Citrus potential.

"My biggest challenge as the season progresses will be putting each swimmer in the correct events that gives them the best opportunity to be successful and score points for the team," Silva said. "With so many swimmers that can compete in multiple events, it will be critical for me to put them in the correct races at our conference championship meet."

When it's all said and done, there is room for improved success for the 2014 Citrus College Women's Swim team. With a year of competition and training under their belt, the Owls will look to make noise throughout the conference season, and hopefully well into the Championship Season.

"My ultimate goal is simple – To have every athlete swimming their fastest times at the end of the season.  If I've done my job, everyone on the roster will be stronger, faster, and more confident in their abilities after a full season of training," Silva said. "Last year nearly every swimmer raced to personal best times at our last meet of the season, and I want that to again be true this year."

The 2014 season starts today at Ventura College who hosts the 2014 WSC Pentathlon.