The Bobcats are officially back in action! With our first month of training wrapped
up and the opening meet behind us, the energy on deck is sky-high. From day one, this team has shown grit, pride, and the trademark Bates spirit that makes our program special. We’re already making waves on day one, in test sets, and in our first meet. Dive in for the highlights👇

Swimming for a Cure

This month, Bates Swim & Dive united behind two powerful cancer-awareness initiatives, swimming in honor of those fighting cancer and those we’ve sadly lost. Through these events, the Bobcats left everything in the water – racing for the health of others!

• Making waves for a cure: On Day 1 of practice, the team took on 40 x 100s, pushing through one of the most mentally challenging sets of the year. The generosity of the Bates community matched their effort as the team raised $3,500 for cancer research and support.
• Hour of Power: Bates joined teams nationwide for the 20th annual Hour of Power, honoring Carleton swimmer Ted Mullin and raising awareness of sarcoma cancer. For the first time, we were honored to have Ted’s parents, Rick and Mary Mullin, join us on deck and share the overall impact of this event. Their message gave the practice powerful meaning and helped our team swim with purpose. As always, we swam fast, continuous relays for a full hour, fueled by a specially curated playlist made by our team!

Sportraits

Every year, the Bates Athletics Marketing team produces creative, fun media content. Here’s a sneak peek at a few!

Test Set Takeover

Our annual test set brought championship energy to our second Saturday practice. With music blasting and teammates lining the deck, the atmosphere was electric. Athletes tackled 10 x 100 Best Average for swim and kick, while sprinters suited up for 3×50 off the blocks – with several throwing down lifetime bests. It was an awesome display of team unity, fast swimming, and early-season fire.

Bobcats Win!

Bates Swim & Dive opened the season with two great meets against Wheaton and Wesleyan – and with no surprise, the Bobcats delivered. Both the Men’s and Women’s teams won each meet, setting the tone for an exciting year ahead. Even amid heavy training, athletes turned in electric races and intentional swims.

Meet Highlights:

• Sarah Palmer ’27 hit an NCAA B-cut in the 100 Breaststroke (1:03.9) and is now 6th in the nation.
• NCAA Champion Max Cory ’26 secured his B-cut in the 50 Free (20.3), ranking 4th in the nation.
• Marrich Somridhivej ’26 had an exceptional meet with his 100 Breaststroke (55.5), currently sitting 5th in the country.
• 7 Bobcats achieved personal best times in their individual events…not tapered or suited across both meets.

Coach Casares summed up the meets perfectly:

“Gutsy swims and really good improvement on the diving board. The team showed up ready, and they set the tone and energy for how we handle ourselves at dual meets. Overall, a great attitude on deck – handling both great swims and ones that leave us wanting more.”

FBA Giving:

A quick note of gratitude to all our donors – alums, families, friends of the program! We couldn’t do it without you, and your support goes directly to the team’s experience. We’ve noticed more and more of our youngest alumni taking advantage of the recurring gift option and setting up payment of $10, $15, or $20 to get processed monthly. Thank you! What a great idea to make a huge impact on the program. 

These gifts add up quickly when many get involved, and if you haven’t already, we hope you’ll consider your own Friends of Bates Athletics gift to help with updating equipment, tech suit purchases, and catered dinners over break!

Highlights:

• TEDx Talk! In case you missed it, Ben Wolking ’27, gave a TED Talk, “Daring to Be Delusional,” right here on campus. Check it out!
• Instagram: Make sure you follow Bates Swim & Dive on Instagram! Where we share highlights on the season, meets, training trip (coming soon…), and fun videos of our team!
• Bates Bobcast: Make sure to listen to past weeks’ Bobcast, to hear Senior captain Marrich and Junior Cora, talk about our successful start to the season!

Upcoming Meets:

• Dec. 5-6 – Maine State Invitational (Waterville, ME)
• Dec .14-23 – Training Trip in Florida!