Shreveport – The Centenary men's swimming team will rely on a trio of seniors and several key underclassmen to achieve its goals for the 2021-22 season.
The Gents get going this weekend in Georgetown, Texas as they face a pair of fellow conference members in host Southwestern and Colorado College on Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m.
Centenary placed fourth at the 2021 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships last season, finishing the three-day event with 359 total points.
"I'm excited for the season to start and to hopefully have a more normal one," said Centenary head coach Brad Langford. "With our season being short last year, I feel we did a great job of competing. I feel we can build off of last year and continue to have success this year. Southwestern and Colorado college will be tough in conference to start off with but I feel that we will compete well against them."
Senior Mitchell Lulich (New Orleans, La.) is back as one of the anchors for the Gents this season as he earned all-conference honors with his runner-up finish in the 100-Yard Breaststroke at last season's SCAC Championships, as he swam a time of 58:31. He was also part of the Gents team that placed third in the finals of the 400-Yard Medley Relay (3:33.13) to earn all-conference honors in that event as well.
"Mitchell has come into the early season practices ready to work," said assistant coach Butch Joran. Mitch has been a solid performer in his first three years and Centenary and this year we are expecting big things from him especially in the Breaststroke events."
"Another senior, Tripp Montgomery (New Iberia, La.) took last season off and has shown in the early practices that he is ready to get back into competition shape. The other Senior is Daniel Lewis (Alexandria, La.) and he has proven he is ready to go in his final season."
Sophomores Antonio Barbee (Plaquemine, La.), Kenan Cooper (St. Francisville, La.) and Aiden Peterkin (Zachary, La.) also return along with the addition of freshman Cash Coats (Andrews, Texas).
"It is pretty much the same good work, long course training and much work yet to be done," said Jordan. We are ready to get going and we will have to have all team members locked and loaded at each competition."
"Our meet schedule is nice this year since we have four home meets which we have never had that many in a season", said Jordan. The Conference championships are scheduled to be in a brand-new facility in Garland, Texas in February and we will look forward to swimming well there."
The Gents will host McMurry in their home opener on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. following their season-opening visit to Southwestern. The Maroon and White then welcome Hendrix to town on Saturday, Nov. 13 on Homecoming weekend for a meet scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Gents begin the New Year at home on Saturday, Jan. 8 versus Millsaps at 1 p.m. and then a week later head to the Austin College Invitational in Sherman, Texas. Centenary then faces Austin College at home on Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. on Senior Day. The SCAC Championships are scheduled for Feb. 16-19 in Garland, Texas.
See the Gents' complete season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/wswim/2021-22/schedule
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests but be advised of current COVID-19 protocols for fans. Updated COVID-19 information is now available via www.GoCentenary.com.
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