Jennifer Hoffer – Sports Editor
Raymond Cswerko capped off his swimming season, being named champion at the NCAA Championships in Ohio for winning the 200 fly.
The junior finishes this year off as three-time All-American, and was named Swimmer of the Year. Not only did he finish first in the 200 fly, but also Cswerko was runner-up in the 400 individual medley and earned fifth place in the 200 individual medley.
“The NCAA’s were a great experience this year, due to my success,” Cswerko said. “Getting fifth runner-up and a first place spot was ¾ of my goal to an grade A performance in all of my events.”
Cswerko said he credits his experience at the NCAA’s last year for his success at the NCAA’s this year.
“I did only one best time and performed terribly in my other events and I used that as motivation everyday in practice to make sure it wouldn’t happen again,” Cswerko said. “The day that I won the 200 fly I could barely sleep that night I had 30 texts waiting for me after the meet all congratulating me on my swim that night. It was a feeling that I will never forget and a memory of being on the first place podium was a college experience of a lifetime.”
As a native from Torrington, Conn., Cswerko said his reason for coming to Southern when Maryland cut their swim team.
“The team has gone through some big changes even in the past two years I’ve been here,” Cswerko said.
“We’ve been able to recruit a lot better and work better and harder as a team pushing each other in practice on a daily basis. The team has been historically successful due to the tradition of hard work at Southern along with great recruiting from the coaches.”
Cswerko was no stranger to success, as he made a name for himself Torrington High School. During his time in high school, Cswerko was named All-American, four times. He was named Athlete of the Year in 2011 and is the current holder of six team records at Torrington High School.
Amidst all his success there, Cswerko said that his most memorable moment was winning the State Open Title in the 200 individual medley.
“Being runner up at NVL’s and winning Class M state titles in the 200 IM and 100 breast were also big moments in my career there,” Cswerko said.
Adjusting from high school swimming to college swimming, was nothing more but a difference in adrenaline rush for Cswerko.
“There are just awesome rivalries that make the meets more interesting,” Cswerko said. “In college, the regular meets done really matter because we focus more on the end of the year results, rather than individual dual meets.”
Still, with all Cswerko’s success he has had thus far, he said the meet that sticks out to him most was at the Junior Nationals his junior year.
“That meet really opened my eyes to what all the other fast swimmers were doing across the country and not just in Connecticut,” Cswerko said.
Swimming under coaches Tim and Matt, Cswerko said, has been the focal point to why he and the team has been so successful.
“I believe the teams success is because we push each other day in and day out,” Cswerko said. “When somebody is slacking off all the other guys give them positive help to help them push through the practice.”
Even the coaches, Cswerko said, are so good that they learn to adapt to every player and teach them different things in different ways.
“They are starting to understand how I operate a little better and are learning how to motivate me and work to my potential,” Cswerko said.
Being part of the swim team has not only made Cswerko a better swimmer over the years, but he said it has also made him a better person.
“I have matured both as a person and an athlete my past two years here that I have become a completely different person,” Cswerko said.
“I changed my outlook on life as well as my outlook on training and competing.
Even with all his success up until now, Cswerko said that he is aiming for higher goals next season.
His pre-meet routines will stay the same; listening to really loud music in his room before he has to be at the pool to get his blood pumping and to stretch out. But his outcome, Cswerko said, he hopes will be different.
“Next year I would like to get top three in all my events with up to three wins to try and earn the swimmer of the meet status,” Cswerko said. “And then hopefully continue my swimming career post-grad.”
Cswerko is majoring in business management, but said his career ambition would be either to start his own business, or remain close to the pool setting and be a college swim coach.
Even though Cswerko’s career is not over yet, the end, he said, he knows is coming.
“What I will miss the most about southern is the team,” Cswerko said. “They have grown to be like family to me and we do everything together.”
Not only does he credit his coaches, and his teammates for his success but Cswerko said none of this would have happened without the support of his family and friends.
“They’ve been there for me throughout my entire career,” Cswerko said. “Thanks to everyone else who has supported me and believed in me.”
