<p>What's it like? How are the coaches? Being on the team? Facilities? Schedule? Is the team competitive within the league? How does it integrate with student life, studies, etc.? All you can tell re swimming at Middlebury and academics and student life there in general, please!</p>
<p>As recently pointed out to me, Midd has one of the best facilities in NESCAC:[Natatorium</a> | Middlebury](<a href=“http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics/facilities/natatorium]Natatorium”>http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics/facilities/natatorium) ;)</p>
<p>I know nothing personally speaking, but a good friend of mine’s son swims for Midd and says he loves the new coach, the program, the swimmers etc. He’s not a star on the team, and frankly, that makes his opinion have even more weight by me. Stars almost always love everything about their team, etc… those who aren’t, have to really like the rest of it to stay, especially at DIII where no scholarships exist.</p>
<p>Head Coach Bob Ruepel,first year, no nonsense but swimmers seem to like him. Women and Men swim and practice together, same coach as most teams in the league. The women’s team is stronger than the men’s but with 12 new swimmers coming , it’s rebuilding time. This year’s men’s NESCACs were disappointing-first time below 4th for many years but with 1 major powerhouse injured, the relays just didn’t have it. Right now Midd is in the middle of the league-Williams and Amherst are far above everyone else, with Tufts, Bates, Bowdoin and Midd in the middle spots and Hamilton, Trinity, and Wesleyan at the bottom.</p>
<p>The Midd Natatorium is the best in the NESCAC by far-heated deck, all new with lots of room for swimmers and spectators, great locker room and training areas.Lots of natural light with an awesome view of the green mountains. Amherst still has a 6 lane pool!</p>
<p>In NESCAC, official practice and coaching doesn’t start til the first of November. Unless you make nationals, it’s all over by the end of Feb. Required practice is 6 days a week-NESCAC mandates 1 day off per week, and is from 3:00ish til 7:30 ish. Team eats together after practice.</p>
<p>My S likes the team and the experience of being a student athlete.He does find it impossible to do more than one lab science during the fall season, and he feels unable to do a lab course during J-term. He is also learning a new language, and will go for a semester abroad in the Fall. He won’t be back for the first couple meets, but at Midd, this is understood as an option for anyone and he was not discouraged.</p>
<p>PM me if you have other questions.</p>
<p>Uh oh forgot Colby…forgive me. I’m not OBD for nothin’…</p>
<p>My son is one of the recruits for this Sept. The facilities are unbelievable and the campus is beautiful.When my son went up for his recruiting trip,he called me the first night to tell me that Midd was where he was going to attend. He really enjoyed the classes that he sat in on and felt that the teachers and students were very much engaged in the classroom.
Though I am biased,the coach swam for the same swim program as a kid that my children swim now and I am friends with his sister, my son had never met him until his trip and he came away very impressed with his enthusiasm as well as his relationship with his new swimmers.
I would definitely visit the campus and meet the coach if you can.
Any questions just PM
Good luck</p>