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BY MIKE UNGER

Swimming and diving coach Mark Davin’s goal for his athletes is simply put yet difficult to achieve.

“For everyone to go lifetime best in every event,” he said. “If that happens we will score very well as a team.”

While the ideal is laudable, it may not be achievable. Davin and his swimmers, however, work tirelessly in hopes of reaching their full potential, spending nearly 20 hours a week in the water.

So far this season they’ve seen some encouraging results. Early last month freshman sensation Meghan Thiel was named Patriot League Female Swimmer of the Week. At the Princeton Invitational, Thiel recorded two second-place finishes, breaking two AU records and the Patriot League record in the 500 meter freestyle, registering a time of 4:54.82.

Thiel, an Arlington, Va., native, swims for the Curl-Burke club team, which practices at AU. Thus, Davin is quite familiar with her abilities.

“I’ve had a chance to see Meghan practice, and I’ve gotten to know her,” Davin said. “Our training is different than what she’s used to. We’re able to do a lot more video and a lot more technique work. There’s more of an emphasis on that. I think she’s responded very well. She’s had a great fall, and we have some high expectations for where she’s headed.”

Cami Miller is captain of the women’s team, which finished sixth in the Patriot League last season. Miller won the mile swim at the conference tournament last year, and Davin has high expectations for the senior from Mission Hills, Kan.

The men’s team is anchored by captain Val Fomenko, who won two seconds and a third at the Patriot League meet last season. Steve Brennan, another key swimmer, was named first team All-Patriot League last year, and his 400 IM time of 4:00.16 ranks seventh all-time among Eagle swimmers.

AU’s divers are a young group. Four women, freshmen Ashley Brandenburg, Rachael Brekke, Ashley Nadeau, and sophomore Elizabeth Lyons, all are in their first year of competitive diving, as is male sophomore diver Scott Kutler.

Eagle swimmers got a taste of international competition last month when they made their annual pilgrimage to San Sebastian, Spain. There they competed against swimmers from countries including France, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

“We have a sponsor, so this was our eighth [trip] in a row,” Davin said. “We’re there to compete, and there’s great competition. It’s a tremendous opportunity for our swimmers, many of whom haven’t had any experience in international competition. Certainly that’s something that AU is all about, the global experience.”

The Eagles chief league rivals on both the men’s and women’s sides are Navy, Army, and Bucknell. If the women or men, who finished fourth in the Patriot League last season, are to improve, better results must come from the relay teams, Davin said.

The Eagles host their final meet Jan. 28 at 3 p.m. against Howard and Old Dominion.

“If you need a reason to scooch out of work early that day, come on out,” said Davin, who’s in his 10th year at the helm the program. “[Swimmers] can hear the cheering when [they’re] competing. No doubt about it.”