Hollins University

During his first season at the helm of the Hollins University swim team, Coach Jonathan Raines led a squad that was small in number but big on effort.

Despite the fact that this year’s roster was less than half the size of the previous season’s, the team remarkably matched its overall record of 4-7 from 2007-2008. "The team knew they would be facing opponents who could fill out the entire lineup every time they competed," Raines says. "However, they still managed to win and take teams down to the final few events. There is a very positive attitude on this team and we train to be ready to swim as well in our last event as we do in the first."

Equally as impressive was the shattering of 68 personal records over the course of the year. "Our expectations were high," Raines notes. "Every time we climbed on the block we expected to drop time."

Another of the season’s highlights was the ODAC/Atlantic State Championship Meet. For the first time in school history, the entire roster made the finals during each session.

Raines sees a bright future for his team, citing the largest recruiting class in recent memory and the loss of only one graduating senior from this year’s squad. "The dedication, drive, and lessons learned during the 2008-2009 season are going to be the foundation for a new chapter in Hollins swimming," he says. "The excitement is undeniable. It is a fun time to be a part of this program."