Swimmers Bid Farewell
January 17, 2003 02:58 PM | General
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By Brady Smith for MSNsportsNET.com
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- There are few times in an athlete’s career when crying is acceptable ‑ after victory, following defeat and when a chapter in their life comes to an end. For West Virginia University senior swimmers Andrew Engle, Nick Frye, Sarah Crouch and Mary Dabkowski, this weekend’s two dual meets will mark the final time they will compete at the WVU Natatorium. While some tears may flow, the two events will provide West Virginia with important momentum heading down the home stretch toward the Big East championships. Still, in front of a home crowd with many friends and family in attendance, there’s nothing that compares to saying goodbye to the place where they spent the most time while in college. Andrew Engle, a native of Glen Dale, W.Va., has enjoyed a solid career and has capped it off with an improved senior season. "I’ve been swimming at the Natatorium since I was in high school, so it’s going to be pretty sad when it’s all over," says Engle, an accounting major and a key part of West Virginia’s freestyle relay teams. Prior to the start of this season, the WVU coaches believed a regular strength training program wasn’t sufficient for Engle and pushed him to train a bit differently from the rest of the swim team. Skeptical at first, he finally complied with the coaches’ wishes and worked out military‑style with the wrestling team four times a week. "Training with the wrestlers helped him tremendously and he has really done a great job for us this season," said Coach Eric McIlquham. "Andy has been one of the team’s most colorful and most loved members throughout his career and we’ll certainly miss him when his time is up here." Much like his teammate Engle, Nick Frye is also a bit colorful. Well, literally that is. Frye, a native of Damascus, Md., has three tattoos: two tribal art designs as well as the initials of his late teammate Thomas Schwind, who passed away earlier last season. His skin art is as bold as his leadership abilities, a trait he has truly exhibited throughout his tenure as a Mountaineer. "The best part of this whole journey has been the people I’ve met," says Frye, who hopes to get involved in the field of child psychology one day. "Just coming out every day and goofing around with the rest of the team is something I’ll never forget." "Nicky comes to play every time," said McIlquham. "It doesn’t matter what event we put him in. It could be the 1000 or 200 free, could be the IM, it could be the 200 fly. He’s a dedicated teammate and a very hard worker who does the job in the pool and in the classroom as well." McIlquham added, "He also has some of the coolest tattoos I’ve ever seen." Mary Dabkowski, a native of Round Hill, Va., has been a valuable asset in the breaststroke and the individual medley throughout her Mountaineer career. She has a goal of breaking the school record in the 100 or 200 breaststroke. "Just being around a great group of teammates and getting to travel around parts of the country and the world really has made the whole experience wonderful," says Dabkowski, who aspires to become a physical education teacher and possibly a swimming coach. "I’ve been really pleased with Mary’s progress and the way she has conducted herself in and out of the pool," says McIlquham. "She’s diversified herself well this season and really stepped up in the butterfly. We’re looking for her to finish her final season strong. A native of Wheeling, W.Va., senior Sarah Crouch has meant a great deal to the Mountaineer swimming and diving program throughout her career. While just a freshman, Crouch anchored the 200 free relay team that earned all‑Big East honors. One season later as a sophomore, Crouch and the 200 free relay team broke the conference record in capturing the Big East championship. Never outspoken but always leading by example, she was named a team captain last season as a junior. One can only imagine the heartache Crouch, her teammates, and family went through when doctors discovered a large growth in her adrenal gland back on Nov. 2, provoking surgery that sidelined her for the remainder of her senior season. Crouch, who is three weeks ahead of her rehabilitation schedule according to doctors, has truly approached the situation like a champion. "There’s more to life than swimming and there’s more to me than swimming and it’s a small price to pay when you consider the big picture," she says. "Swimming is one of my greatest loves and I will definitely miss it, but I’m doing okay with the whole situation." "We’re just thanking God that Sarah is where she is right now ‑ happy and in good health once again," says McIlquham. "She has been an extremely valuable member of this program and even if she doesn’t return next season, we could not be more proud of her." Crouch, who still helps out the WVU coaching staff even though she cannot compete, hopes to attend graduate school and study sport administration after graduating this spring. The 2002‑03 seniors, although few, have each contributed immensely to the successes of the WVU swimming and diving team over the past four seasons. "The seniors have had a huge role in the past few seasons to lead the team, not by numbers, but by their character and personalities," says assistant coach Steve Phillips. Indeed, even if none of the seniors shed a solitary tear this weekend, the WVU swimming and diving program collectively will for them. |
