As a founding member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), athletics at The University of Olivet is a large part of campus life. Swimmers who attend Olivet have the attainable opportunity to continue competing in the sport they love at the NCAA Division III level, further widening their perspective on life through team collaboration and hard work.
The men’s and women’s teams are looking to add swimmers of any distance or stroke. With the potential to become a top MIAA and NCAA Division III program, they are looking forward to the 2017-18 season and new talent from the incoming freshman class. In the past five years alone, OC’s swimming and diving teams have broken numerous school records, had nine individual MIAA champions, and achieved 16 NCAA “B” cuts.
Head Coach Cauli Bedran recently completed his first season with the Comets and has introduced a fresh outlook on the competition. A native of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Coach Bedran is an accomplished swimmer himself. He is a Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame inductee with career highlights including 24 All-America awards and 17 first-team honors.
“The University of Olivet is a very strong academic institution. We also provide great return on your investment and have a swimming and diving program with great aspirations,” said Coach Bedran. “We have a team goal to win a conference championship and finish in the top four at NCAA Championships in the next four years.”
Beyond the growing number of athletic teams, there are an endless number of opportunities for male and female athletes to find their niche at The University of Olivet. The average class size is less than 25 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1. Olivet offers 32 majors and 24 minors and has 60 student organizations.
“The individuals on the team make us special,” explained Coach Bedran. “We look for student-athletes that understand the value of a great education, and at the same time, have the drive to become the very best athlete they possibly can. Through the academic setting rounded off with athletic opportunities, The University of Olivet is preparing student-athletes for success in their professional career.”
Swimmers take advantage of the Upton Pool, a six-lane, 25-yard facility on campus with a state-of-the-art timing system; specialized weight and training facilities; and comfortable transportation for traveling to competitions. Thanks to the support of engaged and generous alumni, the program experiences ongoing improvements.
Practices focus on goal race pace, as each athlete aims to reach the speed they want to achieve in competition. In addition, coaches demand athletes maintain perfect technique and perfect race execution during practice, such as breathing pattern and number of dolphin kicks from each wall.
“The swimming and diving coaching staff designs practices to allow athletes to perform at the very best of their ability every single day,” Coach Bedran said. “Students will be expected to show up to practice with a positive attitude, with the willingness to feel weird, to feel different, and to constantly seek improvement. We believe in the Japanese expression Kaizen, the eternal pursuit of perfection, with the understanding that perfection is impossible to attain. Our goal is to provide the necessary skillset for all our student-athletes to become the very best they can be.”
Coach Bedran wants swimmers to know that the hard work they put in will be matched by coaches. “If you are passionate about academics and swimming and diving, The University of Olivet is a great fit for you.”
To learn more about the swimming and diving teams at The University of Olivet, contact Cauli Bedran at 269.749.7195 or cbedran@uolivet.edu. Every student at Olivet receives a form of financial aid, so schedule a campus visit or connect with The University of Olivet near your hometown to find your fit on campus.