When the SIUC men’s swim team takes to the water this season, excitement and optimism will fill the air. The Salukis, gaining world class swimmers, are looking to repeat as Missouri Valley Conference champions for the second consecutive year.

Liam Weseloh, a freshman swimmer and graduate of Earl Haig Secondary in Toronto, Canada, will bring his talents to the Salukis and after the season ends will try to win a spot on the Canadian team.

Another world-class athlete the men’s team has gained is Herman Louw from South Africa. Louw will not be swimming for the team this season because he is trying to win a spot on the South African Olympic team.

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It’s a challenge that every big program faces in an Olympic year if you’re up in the upper level. If it’s not a foreign kid trying to make his or her Olympic team, it’s a domestic trying to make the U.S. Olympic team, coach Rick Walker explained.

With the Missouri Valley Conference Championships in December and the newly formed National Independents Conference Championships in February of 1996, doing well at these two meets are goals of the men’s swim team.

Our main goal is to try and compete at a higher level than what we may be able to perform in, Walker said. We have our MVC Championships in December and, naturally, our goal is to try and win that again.

This is a transitional period for the team, and this being an Olympic year again, we’re faced with things that are out of our control, Walker said. Everyone is going to have to perform at a higher level than last year and we’re expecting better performances.

Walker added that team may take some hard hits in some dual meets this season. He also said the team will have to evaluate whether or not this will be a seasonal problem that will have to be accepted this year and not next year.

Prospects look very good, and if everything comes together, next year might be a very big year for us. Next year could very well be one of the best years we’ve had since I’ve been here, Walker said.

Southwest Missouri State University, according to coach Walker, will be the team’s biggest competition. The two teams will square off at the Dual Meet Extravaganza in Champaign Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

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