Men's swimming has seen three coaching regimes in as many years, but this time they've got a winner.

Of their performance this season, junior swimmer Murray Longbotham said, "We've had few opportunities to prove ourselves, but every chance we've had we done well."

And they have. In a meet against Simon Fraser, Longbotham broke the longest-standing record on the books, the ten-year-old record for the 500-freestyle, swimming it in 4:37.45.

Head coach Craig Nisgor, coming to Seattle U this season after four years at Brown, said of the meet, "To have 10 pool records fall on the guys' side, it's pretty good."

As the season conference approaches, morale is high and both coaches and players expect great things.

Under the direction of new Head Coach Nisgor, the guys are spending a lot more time in the pool, but the biggest change seems to be morale.

"Morale has skyrocketed. That's possibly the largest factor that goes into our results," Longbotham said.

The team is united in their devotion to the sport, but they bear their burden of commitment lightly.

"They support each other," Nisgor said.

Nisgor summarized his coaching philosophy as one of practicality, "If it's not fun, there's not a point in doing it."

Even so, training can be at times grueling.

"Sport takes a lot. No question. Some would easily fold, but not this team," Nisgor said.

"We know what is expected of us. We know exactly what to do," Longbotham said.

Expectations for the team have never been higher. After the conference season is over, at least eight members of the team will continue training into the spring for the Olympic trials. The Olympic trials, held in Omaha, Neb., are the most intense and competitive meets held in the United States. The team accepts only 26 women and 26 men each year. For a swimmer to be invited to the London Olympics, they would have to be one of the two fastest swimmers in their race. The trials are daunting, but the team is optimistic.

"My coach is proud of me and the entire team," Longbotham said.

The rapport between coaches and swimmers is a big motivator, and it's proven the magic formula for this team, which will be sending 18 swimmers to the post-season conference in February.

"Every opportunity, they look forward to it and make things happen," Nisgor said.

Men's swimming has grown in the last years, and the post-season conference has grown accordingly, from 3 teams to 9.

"It's going to be a lot tougher," Longbotham said.

But, the increased competition is the result of success, and the team couldn't be more pleased to have the chance to prove themselves. Confident as they are, the stakes are high.

"This is something special that we've never seen before," Longbotham said. "This is the big chance. Either give everything or nothing, and everybody is giving everything."

Daniel Bentson may be reached at dbentson@su-spectator.com