Record recruiting class has TMU Swimming & Diving poised for breakout year

The TMU Swimming & Diving program, under the tutelage of Director of Aquatics and Head Coach Gabe Woodward, is continuing to take shape now in its fourth year.

“This is the most excited I’ve been being my first full year here, but also having a squad of 30 swimmers and divers,” Woodward said.

After the women’s roster had seven athletes and the men’s had six last season, those numbers are up to 18 and 12 respectively in 2021-22.

“Our relay is going to be much better than in the past, and much deeper,” Woodward said. We have an ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ relay on the women’s side and an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ on the men’s side. The first two relays are pretty competitive with each other.”

The increase in roster size is a step toward fulfilling the vision Woodward has for the program, which has included emphasizing a more year-round focus.

“We’re having more year-round focus that isn’t just six months out of the year,” Woodward said. “This is a year-round, upper-level collegiate program with the goal of qualifying athletes for the Olympic Trials.”

Woodward, who has spent the past three seasons as Director of Aquatics and is entering his first season with the additional title of Head Coach, knows what it takes to reach those heights. The three-time NCAA All-American at USC earned a bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics before competing at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.

“Our ‘A’ relay last year for both the men and women, probably three out of the four people will be different and possibly four out of four with new athletes,” Woodward said. “There’s a big challenge for the returners, but they’re fully up for it.

“Some of it is probably intimidating having so many new athletes and a lot of them being fast, challenging the upperclassmen right off the bat, but I know that physically and mentally they are able to do it. It’s going to make a much better and well-rounded team in and out of the water.”

How far Master’s has come as a program is being noticed by other collegiate teams.

“Teams are requesting us more to race, which is good,” Woodward said. “They see our roster size and the speed, so we’re getting some better teams to call us to swim at their meets, which is encouraging.”

As TMU enters its fourth season with a record roster size after its largest-ever recruiting class, the team is beginning to gel together with the help of some quality team-bonding time.

“It has been fun to watch them grow and mold together, seeing what Master’s swimming and our program is all about,” Woodward said. “The intrasquad meet helped with that. We’ve had a couple team breakfasts at our house, a couple beach days in the last month, then practice every day.

“We’re seeing them come together and get excited. The team has been working really hard, so I’m hoping we’ll start seeing that pay off these next couple meets.”

Squad

Of the 30 swimmers and divers on the respective men’s and women’s rosters, only nine are returning with 21 being new to the team.

On the women’s side, TMU returns NAIA All-American diver Courtney Simpson and team record-holder Lezly Plahn.

“Courtney on the diving side stands out and I’m excited for her to return to nationals,” Woodward said. “Lezly Plahn has been very consistent. She holds teams records in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 back. I’d love to see her beat those. She’ll probably be challenged by Emma McMurray, who’s a freshman and should be extremely competitive.”

Woodward also acknowledged the strong training being put in by returners Hannah Schumacher and Carman Hunt.

“Hannah and Carman have both done really well in returning,” Woodward said. “Carman worked very hard over the summer, so she’s come back in great shape. She’s a competitor and if anyone beats her, she wants to race them again right away.”

For the men, the Mustangs bring back a couple Golden State Athletic Conference champions from last season in Spencer Grubb (200 butterfly, 500 free) and Xavier Gutierrez (200 free). Woodward also expects to see continued growth from Ryan Tanis.

“Spencer Grubb already has put in the work,” Woodward said. “He’s been our most consistent leader among the returners in terms of his work ethic, which has been phenomenal. He’s really stood out as a leader.

“On the men’s side, Xavier is our most experienced swimmer. We’ve seen him rise to match and exceed what he’s done before, both with having extra pool time this year and having the freshmen push him every day in practice. Ryan Tanis as well. I think there’s a lot left in the tank for both of them to improve.”

Tyler Coffman will join Simpson and become the second diver in women’s program history, while Darby Culver will be the first-ever for the men.

Those are just two of the several athletes Woodward is excited to add this season.

“There are a number of exciting athletes who have come in,” Woodward said. “On the women’s side, we’re excited to see Emma McMurray in our sprint events. She’ll help in all of our relays. 

“Cassandra O’Connor and Allyn-Ashley Bennett have both been a positive surprise, both competing for spots on the ‘A’ relay. Mallory Engel as well. Audrena Butts, I’m excited to see her compete in the butterly events.”

For the men, Woodward highlighted the expected contributions from JT Sears and Nilton Dos Santos de Oliveira.

“JT Sears has been the most consistent,” Woodward said. “He comes in ready to break team records, potentially even this weekend. Nilton has been putting in great work, but has been so consistent in practice. He could go off and break a team record as well right off the bat this first meet or two.”

Schedule

Master’s begins its 2021-22 season on Saturday at the PCSC North State Meet in Elk Grove before competing in the Malibu Invite at Pepperdine University on Oct. 8-9.

“Getting to compete against some NCAA Division I, Division II and NAIA teams in these two meets is exciting,” Woodward said. “It’s a good challenge for our team. Our psych sheets came out and we have some swimmers in the top level for the first time in program history, so that’s pretty exciting to see.”

On Nov. 13, TMU will compete in a meet hosted by Soka University before finishing fall semester at the UNLV Invitational Dec. 17-19.

“The UNLV Meet is what we’re gearing up for,” Woodward said. “It’s at the end of fall semester and we’re going to try for some national cuts then. We’re trying to push after it and hopefully send the athletes home on a good note of racing. That meet will be a high-level of competition to close out the semester.”

The Mustangs will then return to the pool in 2022 at the OC Invitational hosted by Concordia University Irvine on Jan. 8. Master's will then compete in the Westmont College Tri-Meet (Jan. 22) and Fresno Pacific University Senior Meet (Jan. 29) before taking part in the Pacific Collegiate Swimming & Diving Championships, hosted in St. George, Utah at Dixie State University.

“I haven’t scored out the meet to see where we want to fall, but without a doubt our goal will be to move toward the top of the conference in the next year or two,” Woodward said, adding that TMU wants to finish as the top NAIA team in its conference which consists of NCAA Division I, II and II teams.

“From the foundation of swimmers that we have this year on the team, that’s where we can be if we continue to fill out the roster with those level of athletes,” Woodward continued.

Then athletes who qualify for nationals in different events will participate at the NAIA Championships March 2-5 in Columbus, Georgia.