Outside the Aquatic Center, one can find multiple Hemlock trees peppered around, surviving the wintry mix of Athens on Wednesday. The Hemlock tree, which can withstand very heavy snowfall and ice storms, is a metaphor of the struggles the Bobcats withstood this season.
After firing coach Greg Werner on Oct. 25 and finishing sixth at the Mid-American Conference Championships — the worst outing since 1981 — the Bobcats are in a state of repair.
“I’ve learned a lot,” interim head coach Derick Roe said. “I was kind of thrown into the fire before our first meet and I had to learn on the fly and adapt. I’ve had to work within the confines of the program that was established prior to me taking over.”
Roe, who was assigned to lead the 11-time MAC Champions just minutes prior to the season-opening meet, navigated the Bobcats to a 6-5 dual meet season record, a drop from the team’s 6-3 record two seasons ago.
“I think it’s incredible that he could hold this team together,” sophomore Addison Ferguson said. “He had to coach three different practices and handle all of us girls and drama. In terms of coaching, everyone bashed him when it really wasn’t his fault, I think it was very mature how he handled it all.”
However, Roe doesn’t know if he will return next season, as Ohio hired Rachel Komisarz-Baugh to assume head coaching duties on Mar. 17.
Ferguson was a bright spot in a year of turmoil; she advanced to her first NCAA Championship in Minneapolis and won her second consecutive title in the 100-yard backstroke at the MAC Championship. She also mentioned that she was impressed with meeting her new coach at Nationals. Komisarz-Baugh had coached at Louisville the past five years.
“I think (Rachel) is going to help lead our team a little bit better,” Ferguson said. “I think her having the personality she has, which is strong, and you’re going to listen, and that you’re going to excel if you listen, is really going to help us.”
According to Ferguson, Komisarz-Baugh’s coaching plans for the Bobcats will be designed to meet everyone’s wants and needs, and the swimmers will not be placed in just one category such as distance or sprints.
“I’m jealous of the team,” senior Laurin Williams said. “She’s really going to turn this team around. There’s going to be a few building years for the team since the team is so small, but I think she is a fabulous recruiter.”
Williams, who hails from Seattle, said she was disappointed that her final season didn’t consist of her best times, but was still proud she could finish out her career as a Bobcat.
“It’s so weird to think I’m done,” Williams said. “I think my career here in Ohio was great, this year was difficult and everyone pushed through.”
Although Williams was upset with the team’s conclusion to the 2013-14 campaign, she felt she still needed to lead by example and show the younger swimmers how to succeed through appropriate work.
“Of course I’m upset, but I talked to my parents and they said you have to put it into perspective and realize you had an amazing (first) three years here,” Williams said.
The Hemlock trees have managed to survive one of Athens’ most brutal winters, but are still growing outside the Aquatic Center. Ohio hopes to also grow past a season of adversity.
@lukeoroark
lr514812@ohiou.edu
