Juniors Brett Baker and Jon Godsey fulfilled lifelong dreams and increased the Tufts swimming program's national profile while competing at the 2005 NCAA Div. III Swimming & Diving Championships hosted by Hope College in Holland, Michigan.
Baker garnered an honorable mention All-American status by swimming a 200-yard freestyle time of 1:42.12. Godsey's best event at Nationals was the 100 backstroke, clocking in with a time of 52.46 in the preliminaries, good enough to earn him a three-way tie for 16th place and, following a swim-off, a No. 17 finish overall.
Both men swam three events at Nationals. Baker finished 34th in the 100 freestyle on the final day of the competition with a time of 47.38. He also clocked his 50 freestyle at 22.33 on the opening day of the meet, solid enough for 51st place.
Besides Godsey's 100 backstroke finish, he also swam to a 23rd place finish in the 200 backstroke with a 1:55:49. Godsey competed in the 200 individual medley on the first day of the competition, finishing in 36th with a 1:58.72.
Interim coach Adam Hoyt traveled with the swimmers to Michigan to cheer them on.
"I knew they were capable of [making Nationals]," Hoyt said. "I didn't expect it, but I hoped for it."
Baker agreed with Hoyt, saying that after the NESCAC tournament, Nationals was an added plus.
"For us the season is focused around NESCACs," he said. But it was Baker's focus at NESCACs that got him to Nationals as well as the prestige of breaking a nine-year-old Tufts record in the process.
Godsey said he was "thrilled to do as well as I did at NESCACs." He added that earning a trip to Nationals had always been a goal of his, and that his arrival at the highest level of competition only creates more of a desire to return next year. Baker agreed with Godsey about next year's goals.
"[I want to] make it back to Nationals, swim well for the team, and just have fun," Baker said.
Both men hope that along with their return to Nationals next year, many of their teammates can also represent Tufts at the event.
"It really seemed to get the ball rolling," Baker said. "Everyone seemed to be real proud of Jon and me."
"We have the possibility to bring a lot more people next year," Godsey said. "A lot of people's goals have been raised. Because of Brett and I, it's a more realistic goal for the guys. They'll say 'Why can't we get a relay together?'"
Beyond the effect that Baker and Godsey's efforts had on their current teammates, Godsey thinks that the success will rub off on Tufts' recruits as well.
"It shows that we have a fantastic program. I think they'll be really impressed with Coach Hoyt and the success we've had."
Hoyt's coaching status for next year is still undetermined, but the strong close to the season, highlighted by Godsey's and Baker's Nationals appearance, reflects well on the interim coach.
"The guys' performances at NESCACs and Nationals will certainly help his chances at being reinstated," junior swimmer Marc Katz said.
"The program is going in a great direction." Hoyt said. "Next year I expect it to be even stronger."
Baker attributed much of his success to Hoyt and the training regimen that he's put together.
"The coaching staff was very helpful in keeping us motivated," Baker said.
Regardless of their performance at Nationals, both men said it was an experience to just be in an environment like the one in Michigan.
