Swimmer at Kenyon

<p>I am a swimmer who is considering attending Kenyon in the class of 2010. I know that the swim program is awesome, but I am not the "literary type" like Kenyon seems to attract. I am really very preppy and conservative. Can anyone give me feedback on whether I will feel comfortable there?</p>

<p>Kenyon is doing a great job attracting all types of students. You will fit in well with the swim team, it is more conservative then the over-all student body. I recommend a visit, also look at Denison (not as high in rankings but more conservative).</p>

<p>Don't worry about not being the literary kind at Kenyon, a huge chunk of the student are literary, but there are many students who have varied interests as well. To talk about the swim team in general, I think I have to agree with VivaKC, it appears to be conservative and preppy to an extent. But still, within the swim team as well there are different kinds of students.</p>

<p>i am swimmer in high school as well... and of course i know about kenyons 27 straight national titles...so how hard is it to get on the swim team? My schools swim program is very weak, we've never really had a real coach, so i know that the kenyon program could vastly improve my times, but right now as a junior I swim about a 25 second 50 free...so basically actually getting on the kenyon swim team would be like a dream come true for me!</p>

<p>Preppy and Conservative? Finally I may have one like minded person at Kenyon.</p>

<p>When did George Bush visit Kenyon?</p>

<p>This question has two pieces. </p>

<p>First, swimming. Putting your 25-second 50-free in perspective, note that Kenyon was a bit weak nationally this year in the 50-free, sending three swimmers in this event to the NCAA meet but placing none - the Kenyon sprinters had times at nationals of 21.21, 21.41 and 21.48 (see: <a href="http://webpages.charter.net/esieger/swimresults/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://webpages.charter.net/esieger/swimresults/&lt;/a> - the winner hit 20.46). You might consider reaching into the 100 and 200-free, hoping to both gain in speed (you need to get more serious in the weightroom) while gaining a new advantage by adding stamina that can come from work ethic in the pool. Kenyon swimming has a good record of raising to championship level the kids who were good but not great, so this is not impossible - plus, the new pool is big enough for a second-team swimmer to get in the water for workouts. But NCAA rules limit teams to 18 swimmers in championship meets, so there's a real risk of sitting on the bench for the fun meets. Over the years, however, Kenyon has made room for swimmers who would never hit the great times, and being part of a tradition like Kenyon swimming really can be an experience of a lifetime.</p>

<p>Second, you're not a "literary" type, whatever that is. Kenyon has lots of majors in sciences and things like econ. At one point, several decades ago, there was a period of years during which one of the swimming co-captains went to medical school; it would be a funny perspective that would lump together pre-med and "literary" kids. One of the strong traits of Kenyon and similar LACs is the ability to bring together - indeed, to force interaction in a small and intimate community - the "literary" and "arty" kids with the science and math and social sciences kids. Just as the "arty" kids learn an intellectual rigor from their peers, the science and social studies kids gain a broader and more worldly and flexible perspective when exposed to the peers outside of their academic comfort zones.</p>

<p>In the past the North Coast Conference limited the total number of swim participants to 24 each for both men and women's teams and only 18 would score points. The rest would be tapered for the last meet or the last chance meet after conference. However, this year they finally allowed all swimmers to participate at Conference champs. Still only had 18 score. If you weren't scoring, you could time trial after finals. Most of the fast swimmers who already have National cuts before this meet, will not be tapered until Nationals.</p>

<p>As for the team, it doesn't really matter how fast you are to swim at Kenyon. If you commit to training hard and coming regularly you will be allowed to swim. Many slower swimmers might be scared off because the swimmers are fast. However, there are two squads for meets. The faster swimmers swim the more competitive D1 teams, while the slower swimmers will get to swim against D3 teams. Sometimes the team splits over the weekend with one team going one place, the rest elsewhere. Nevertheless, most of the swimmers do have personal best times, if they follow the coaches training.</p>

<p>The swimmers on the team overall tend to be very accepting of their differences. There are English and Econ majors. Some members have served in other leadership roles on campus. In general, the team seems to lean more to the right than the left. Both teams are pretty tight in general and with each other. They both submit to an honor code to stay dry during the official training season and for the most part they do follow it. Even over Thanksgiving break.. at least my daughter did.</p>

<p>If you are interested in swimming, I would say make sure you contact one of the coaches just as school begins or email Coach Steen before school starts. Also, there are team members practicing early in the season without coaches on deck. It would be to your advantage to get in touch with another team member to find out when they practice and get in shape before the official practice season begins the end of October.</p>