Two Weeks In: Racing, Reconnecting, and Building Momentum
The first couple weeks of the season are always some of the most enjoyable of the year. After returning to campus, our Johnnies have jumped right back into the rhythm of training, balancing challenging workouts, classes, and the energy that comes with the start of a new season.
While much of our focus has been on building a strong foundation for the months ahead, the opening weeks have also reminded us what makes Saint John's Swim & Dive special: competition, camaraderie, and a connection that extends far beyond graduation.
Intersquad
Red Team
One of the highlights of the opening weeks was our annual Red vs. Blue Meet, a tradition that brings out the competitive spirit of every member of the team.
This year's battle saw the Red Team claim a 326-251 victory over the Blue Team. With the win, Red now holds a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series, adding another chapter to one of the most spirited traditions in our program.
The meet featured everything we love about Red vs. Blue. First-year Johnnies got their first taste of the rivalry, veterans embraced the chance to compete in a fun setting, and teammates cheered one another on throughout the afternoon. Even in the middle of demanding early-season training, the energy on deck was great and served as a reminder of how much this group enjoys competing.
Alumni Weekend
This past weekend, we shifted our focus from team competition to celebrating the broader Johnnie Swim & Dive family.
Our annual Alumni Meet brought a good turnout of former swimmers and divers back to campus. Alumni jumped back into the pool, raced alongside current team members, and spent time reconnecting with teammates, coaches, and friends. It was great to see athletes from multiple eras of the program sharing stories, catching up on life, and renewing the connections that began during their own time at Saint John's.
Alumni 2026
Two races of the weekend: Zelen vs. Zelen: Matt (’99) racing his daughter Haley (senior Bennie swimmer and All-American sprinter), and Anderson vs. Anderson, Sam ’24 racing his brother Nick (freshman Johnnie this year). Zelen’s races were an even split, and Matt taking the 50 Fly, and Haley taking the 100 IM, and the Anderson’s were too, though Sam used some extra help on at least one of the events. All in all it was a fun weekend of swimming and connecting the current team with the Johnnies of yesteryear.
Thank You, Johnnie Supporters
The support from our alumni, families, and friends has extended well beyond the pool deck during the opening weeks of the season.
During this year's Go Johnnies Challenge, Johnnie Swim & Dive received incredible support from 56 donors who contributed $14,265 to the program. We are deeply grateful to everyone who chose to invest in our student-athletes and in the future of Saint John's Swim & Dive.
These gifts help provide meaningful opportunities for our team, everything from tech suits for our guys at conference, to equipment for training and training trip support. Just as importantly, the strong participation reflects the pride and commitment that so many alumni and supporters continue to have for Johnnie Swim & Dive.
On behalf of our coaches and student-athletes, thank you for your generosity and belief in our program.
Looking Ahead
It's been a busy start to the year. Now the focus shifts back to the work ahead.
This upcoming weekend is long weekend here at SJU, and another tradition our team looks forward to every year. Along with a demanding block of training, the team will take part in our annual paintball outing, an event that has become a staple of the Johnnie Swim & Dive experience. Between the welts that form from the time on the paintball field and the challenging practices in the pool, it is another great weekend for teammates to strengthen the bonds and prepare for the grind of the season.
We're also excited to introduce a new competition to our schedule this season. In a couple weeks, we'll travel to Rochester, MN for the inaugural WIAC vs. MIAC Meet. This event will provide a unique early-season opportunity to race against some great Division III programs in the region in a new format, where relays will be swum as a conference, so we’ll get to intermingle with the other MIAC teams to compete against the WIAC. This should be a great early test for the boys, and a chance to see how we stack up with the conference.
To all the alumni who joined us this past weekend, and to those who supported us during the Go Johnnies Challenge, thank you for your continued support of Saint John's Swim & Dive. Your presence reminds our student-athletes that being a Johnnie is about much more than four years in the pool. It is about joining a lifelong community that continues to support and strengthen one another long after graduation.
We look forward to seeing many of you again throughout the season.
Go Johnnies!