The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams look to improve after seeing mixed results in their 2008-09 campaigns. Last season the women didn’t win a single league meet. However, a strong finish has the team looking up. As a young team last year, the Red made steady strides towards the end of the season. The men, on the other hand, had its best-ever showing in the Ivy League with a third-place finish in the Championship meet. The men finished with a respectable record of 6-4, while the women finished 1-9.

The women’s side has already shown signs of improvement in the early stages of the 2009-10 season, beating Dartmouth but losing to Harvard in their first meet. Sophomore Chiara Spinazzola won the 100 back (56.83) and 100 fly (56.39). Her time in the 100 back was a pool record.

“I think the other teams were really taken aback by our strong performance,” Spinazzola said. “All the other teams now know they have to watch out for us.”

This year, men’s coach Joe Lucia has taken over the women’s team as well, hoping to improve upon the Red’s losing record. While Lucia admits that the additional responsibility does come with challenges, so far his system has been working well.

“The biggest challenge was getting a system established where I could handle double responsibilities of recruiting, scheduling and traveling,” Lucia said. “You have to have a system in place that works and allows things to be manageable.”

Despite last year’s results, the Red remains confident that it will have a successful season.

“It’s really exciting for our team right now,” Spinazzola said. “Everyone’s so much closer now, and our team’s doing so well and working out really hard.”

For the men, the Red will have to replace the production of eight graduated letter-winners to match last year’s success. This season, the Red will rely on co-captains Sasha Dobroliouboy and Anker Fog to help replace not just the loss of production, but also the loss of leadership.

“When you [have] great leadership, it makes it easy,” Lucia said. “Our senior class this year is small; they’re working really hard to bring that attitude to the team.”

Dobrolioubov led the Red to a split with Harvard and Dartmouth on Saturday. The senior won the 100 free (46.77) while sophomore Michael Cai won the 100 (56.81) and 200 (2:04.22) breast, as well as the 200 IM (1:52.40). Dean Holcomb won the 200 fly (1:50.05).

According to Lucia, the key to a successful season is going out as a team and performing week-in and week-out. If the Red can do that, wins and records will take care of themselves.

“Every week we try to win. In swimming, there’s no defense. We can’t stop the other team,” Lucia said. “All you can do is race them and try to get as many points and wins as you can.”