Aquatic Athletes Make Waves in Puerto Rico Adventure!

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Their previous contest occurred on Dec. 7, and the calendar will not recommence until Jan. 15.

The swimming and diving squads for Bridgewater State University have the most extended break of all the Bears’ athletic teams during the academic intermission.

There is a gap of 5 1/2 weeks between competitions following the hosting of the BSU Invitational earlier last month, with the upcoming event taking place at Eastern Connecticut State University in mid-January.

Maintaining readiness during such an extended hiatus can be difficult, thus the Bears are traveling south to enhance their training as they enter the latter half of the season.

The male and female squads depart Thursday for Puerto Rico, where they will engage in an intensive training camp, returning next Tuesday.

With a delegation of 51 members, the Bears have arranged for nine training sessions over a period of 4 1/2 days in Rincon, located in the western region of Puerto Rico.

BSU previously conducted winter training excursions regularly, making such trips for a decade straight, with the last occurring in the 2019-20 season.

However, since the COVID outbreak, the Bears had not undertaken any mid-season excursions until this year.

“Winter training excursions are quite common in the swimming arena,” stated men’s and women’s coach Mike Caruso. “Since it’s a winter sport, there is significant downtime in between, and you have three or four weeks of practice.

“We head down there to accumulate some yardage. We essentially prepare them for the championship (competitions in February). We take them uphill to drop them off at the conclusion.”

BSU traveled to Puerto Rico in 2015 for training and has primarily conducted its winter activities in Florida historically.

Fundraising efforts were carried out throughout last year to minimize the expenses of this trip.

Caruso mentioned that team members participated in events at Gillette Stadium and also at Barrett’s Haunted Mansion in Abington as part of the fundraising activities.

“They genuinely look forward to it,” remarked Caruso about his team members traveling to Puerto Rico. “It’s been a while since we journeyed after a decade of continual trips.

“This team has been eagerly anticipating it. COVID certainly disrupted travel and fundraising, creating challenges. We regained our momentum this year, and it worked out well for us.”

There will be additional collegiate teams at the facility BSU will utilize, therefore some time trials will occur against competitors during their stay.

Caruso expressed that the trip not only prepares the swimmers and divers for future challenges but also fosters unity among the teams.

“It’s substantial,” noted Caruso. “It’s not just the training. It’s the team cohesion, the camaraderie, the collective struggle. That is what binds everything together. It can be an extended season and a tough grind.

“It’s definitely a professional trip for everyone involved. There isn’t excessive downtime. Any spare time they have will be spent by the hotel pool or the ocean.”

The men’s team recently achieved victory against Plymouth State University during the BSU Invitational.

BSU secured its third consecutive Little East Conference title last season. The Bears are aiming for their fourth in a row from Feb. 13-16 in Wellesley after five additional meets.

The BSU women’s squad also triumphed at the BSU Invitational among a field of six teams. The Bears finished second to Eastern Connecticut State University in the Little East last season.

“Both teams are going to be contending for a championship,” Caruso stated. “That’s all one can ask for. It will be a fierce competition.”

This marks the third occasion in less than a year that BSU athletic teams are heading to Puerto Rico.

The lacrosse team played two early-season matches from March 7-9 and conducted practice sessions in San Juan.

The women’s basketball team competed in the Puerto Rico Clasico on Dec. 28 and 30.