By Josh Lipka
The University of Louisville men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams triumphed over Virginia Tech, but fell to Indiana University in the double duel meet on Friday, Jan. 28. This meet honored a group of seniors – athletes who have been with the Cardinal program that has been built from the ground up.
After the meet, head coach Arthur Albiero said that the senior class is very special and that each class has contributed to the program at a really high level.
“The seniors chose to be a part of something when there wasn’t a whole lot here,” said Albiero. “They believed in the program. They believed in the things that were coming.”
Albiero has seen swimming at the highest level of sports. For the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Albiero was invited to be a member of the Romanian coaching staff. When he returned to the United States, his success didn’t stay in Beijing. The following two years, Albiero and his staff earned the Big East Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Senior Therese Bergstrom, who specializes in the breast stroke and individual medley, traveled from her home country of Sweden to find a fitting program. While deciding on a school to swim at, Bergstrom’s father said they would come to America to train in Charlotte, N.C.
“I went there for two months and met this great coach who knew Arthur,” said Bergstrom. “I got in touch with Coach Albiero and was like, ‘Wow, I really like how the program sounds.'”
Bergstrom, who is the women’s team captain, remembers what it was like in her early years as a Cardinal. Bergstrom said that, in Sweden, swimming is much more of an individual sport than swimming in America. U of L emphasizes the importance of teamwork in every single race. During a race, conversation is nearly impossible because the Cardinals are constantly cheering each other on.
“It was different from what I’m used to,” said Bergstrom. “The atmosphere here taught me how to be a member of a huge team like this.”
Another senior who was honored in the double duel meet competes as one of the team’s few divers. David Zamkov, who grew up in the suburbs of his home state of Maryland, couldn’t resist the city of Louisville.
“I came out here and the city was unlike anywhere I’ve seen before,” said Zamkov. “I could see the rise of the athletic program and school in general – definitely was an influencing factor for me.”
Albiero emphasizes his philosophy of “the four pillars” to his team. These consist of commitment to academics, commitment to develop as an athlete, commitment to the team and commitment to social responsibility.
“This group has been a great example of that legacy for years,” said Albiero. “The challenge is to leave this place better than how it was when they got here. This group has certainly done that.”
The Cardinals prepare for the postseason with the Big East Diving Championship at home on Feb. 11-13. The Big East Swim Championship is shortly after, at home, on Feb. 16-19. The Cards are led by Bergstrom and Carlos Almeida, a junior who competes in the individual medley and the breast stroke. Last year, Almeida set a school record by placing fifth in the 200-yard breast stroke at the 2010 NCAA Championships, which was the highest individual finish for a Cardinal.
