Weston, Mass.-Second-year head coach Mike Kotch has faced the challenges of 2008, and is ready to make some noise in New England come Oct. 24 when the Pride enter the pool.
Bringing in a crop of talent on the men and women's side, standout athletes are in the midst to launch both programs from the mat to championship status. "Christina Estrada will put the women's program in the limelight," says Kotch. "She is close to breaking records that have stood for a decade."
Returning athlete Lindsay Ranahan is a top six swimmer in the backstroke, and putting together times that would qualify her in the top six times of the New England Championships.
On the men's side, freshmen Andrew Garrity and Stephen McGovern should make the men's program "a viable freestyle relay," Kotch explains. Returning athletes Ben Perry and Mick Moriarty should anchor the men's program.
Overcoming the Challenges
In his first-year at the helm, Kotch put forth a challenge to his athletes to do more than what they had been asked to do before his arrival. Perry helped break records during the New England Invitational Swimming and Diving Association meets in 2008, but the men's program would only score one point.
"Kids showing up and doing what they are supposed to will make this program successful," says Kotch.
He believes that the key will be for neither himself nor his team to get comfortable going into the season. "I need to go back to the drawing board and recreate that (determination)."
In total, the women's program combined for 17 total points in the NEISDA Championships. "If all things hold, the women will score 150 points," Kotch says about the combination of his returnees and incoming class if they were to participate in the event.
Kotch is a firm believer in the process of making Regis College a viable program, and returning it to a period when the Pride reigned as New England swimming elite. "We have a small, but talented group that will put Regis in contention," Kotch remarks.
"The kids are great, I'd go through a brick wall for them."
With New Things Come New Expectations
Speaking to the effects of the new athletic fields, Kotch says "Whenever there is something new there's a spark, and it's easy to feed off of that emotion and newness."
With an anticipated completion date in September 2009, "the fields will be huge to bring some life to the campus, and getting the kids out of their dorms," Kotch explains.
The fields will consist of a synthetic turf field with the official lines for field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer. Along with the construction will be an eight-lane track surface, field event areas, six-court tennis facility, and softball diamond.
Although the tennis courts will be completed first, the team will not be able to use the surface until spring. "It will help the athletic program bond together when all the teams are out showing support," Kotch believes.
Kotch also feels that the new athletic logo will give student-athletes a sense of pride in competing for a department looking to "make noise" within the conference.
"It's a tangible sign that you can show to your team and recruits to say that things are changing."
Adding to that change will be the launch of the athletic department's www.GoRegisPride.com Web site expected early September. The Web site will host the ability to feature several rotating stories on its home page, as well as team specific stories on team pages. GoRegisPride.com will give student-athletes, and the department exposure that was not previously had.
"If kids are going to put in the work for you, and you expect them to put in work, then give them the best possible equipment, Web site, and tools, and this is a step in the right direction," Kotch retorts.