With the addition of swimming, Loyola has added another competitive sport to its athletic program.

The new swim team brings a new conference for the Wolf Pack, the Mid-South Conference (MSC). While the rest of the athletic program competes in the Southern States Athletic Program (SSAC), Brett Simpson, Director of Athletics and Wellness, said the SSAC does not sponsor swimming.

In early July, the Mid-South Conference Council of Presidents approved Loyola as the MSC’s 15th affiliate member and the seventh institution in the Mid-South to sponsor swimming.

“This conference features some of the best competition in the NAIA. This conference also presents a great opportunity for Loyola student athletes, as the conference members share a commitment to supporting talented scholar athletes both on the field and in the classroom,” Simpson said.

Loyola’s swim team has 15 total members. The women’s team has six members, and the men’s team carries the majority of the weight with nine members. Both men’s and women’s teams are made up entirely of freshmen swimmers; they will compete collegiately for the first time ever.

Paige Carter, Wolf Pack swimmer and general studies freshman, said she is excited to become a collegiate student-athlete.

“The addition of this team created an opportunity for me to do the thing I love. I’m really looking forward to traveling to meets and experiencing college swimming with my team,” Carter said.

The young team will be sharing the pool for the first time ever this year, but that hasn’t stopped head coach, Thomas Natal, from exuding the confidence that he has in his young swimmers.

“I expect 75%-80% of the team to qualify for the national meet, and many of our individual swimmers to be ranked in the top 20,” Natal said.

Criminal justice sophomore Kayla Mack expressed her interest in the swimming program and recognizes it as an opportunity for Loyola students to get behind another athletic program.

“It’s a new experience for everyone at Loyola. I think it’s going to be an exciting change and another team that students can follow and support,” said Mack.

Economics freshman and swimmer Warren Massimini is hoping that students around campus are willing to come out and support the swim team in its first ever season.

“I hope that we can have as many students out there as possible. It would be a great experience for both the swimmers and the Wolf Pack student body,” Massimini said.

With an opportunity for Loyola to make some noise in the Mid-South Conference, the Wolf Pack swim team will begin its season Sept. 30 at Centenary College. Loyola will start competing in Mid-South Conference meets on Feb. 2.