Head Coach Jacy Dyer enters her second season at the helm of the Toledo women's swimming & diving program. The Rockets return 13 letterwinners from last season and bring in nine newcomers, including seven freshmen and two transfers.
You've been practicing for the team for about a month. What stands out to you the most about this 2025-26 team?
Dyer: They're full of personality and excitement for the season. They're doing a really good job of working on team building, getting closer as a team, and building that family atmosphere. This team is full of many different personalities that work and mesh so well together. Each person on the team is extremely driven and they are working towards the same goal, which has been awesome to see so early on.
You returned 13 student-athletes from last season, including underclassmen such as Leah Evans and Rosie Richards who had successful seasons. What do you think those returners will bring to this season?
Dyer: They're bringing a lot of experience and knowledge in their roles. The captains and all the upperclassmen have learned so much in their three to four years of college, and they have taken on a role of teaching the underclassmen. They have helped them figure out how to communicate and encourage their teammates, as well as how to be excited for everyone on the team. This is helping build a stronger team. Leah (Evans) and Rosie (Richards) have great experience with competing well at big meets and have been great role models. The underclassmen want to be in that role, so it's nice to have those two for them to look up to.
You brought in nine newcomers, including seven freshmen and two transfers. What does that group bring to the squad?
Dyer: I know I mentioned energy with the whole team, but I would say this freshman class and the transfers really add and help build that energy. They came in the first day of testing and training and they began cheering for everyone. They wanted to be a group of people that brings great energy and cheers for their teammates every chance they can. Maybe that's the background that these freshmen had with their club teams or high school teams, but they brought that in and didn't even hesitate. It's created a very positive environment. It's helped our upperclassmen experience something they haven't had before, so it's been awesome to see this group gel together so fast between all classes.
Which of the newcomers has stood out to you the most or who are you expecting to make a big splash this season?
Dyer: I don't want to sound cliché and say all of them, but each of them is definitely serving their role really well. I think all of them have a chance to contribute in more ways than just in the pool. As teammates, they have been contributing a lot on the pool deck and have the chance to contribute this season.
The nine newcomers you brought in marks your first full recruiting class. What were you looking for in that class?
Dyer: I wanted people that love swimming and love diving and they're passionate about them. I also wanted people that are excited about competing at the collegiate level and motivated to earn their degree and work towards accomplishments in the classroom on top of what they accomplish in the pool. I also look at what type of teammate they want to be. When I am recruiting, we have a lot of conversations about who they are as a human being and what they will contribute to the program on a personal level. This new class fits so well and has been awesome. You can see it at practice. We are in the pool at 6:00 a.m. and everyone is tired, but this group is ready to go and cheering for each other from the moment we step out there. I ask the team if they have any words of encouragement for the day, and they respond with enthusiasm and constant positive energy.
How have you gone about planning your 2025-26 schedule? How will it help prepare the team for the MAC Championship?
Dyer: Every team is different. With the MAC, all the head coaches have agreed on having a set schedule of conference teams we compete against for the next few seasons, so that was pre-arranged. Our non-conference will provide us with some really great competition, including competing against programs like Marshall and Indiana State. I expect this team to be more competitive and by racing against teams outside of our conference, we will be able to figure out ourselves more. We can build up our confidence, figure out our best relay teams, see other programs to keep us fresh for MAC competition and get ready to give each meet our best effort. When I was a student-athlete here, we used to have big programs such as Ohio State and Michigan race against us in our pool. It's my goal to get back to that at some point in the near future.
The team is competing in a midseason invite at West Virginia. When scheduling those meets, do you look for certain competitions that will mimic the MAC Championships?
Dyer: For our midseason invite, we look for a way to get most of our athletes a preliminary and a final. We want everyone to experience that type of championship format, providing someone who may not make our scoring team with more opportunities to try to make our MAC scoring team at the mid-season invite. In the past, the West Virginia Invitational has had three different heats for the finals, and it's a very deep and competitive midseason invite which is very similar to the MAC Championship. I think the MAC has some of the best depth across mid-major conference in swimming and to make it to a finals is a huge feat. So when scheduling our midseason, I look for a meet that is set up similarly to the MACs to allow our student-athletes to get a feel for what they will see at the end of February.
What are you most looking forward to in your second season?
Dyer: The team. I know that may sound cliché, but this group is working so hard individually and together. They are training at a high level. I am so excited to see the improvements that the group is going to make as well as continuing to build the culture of this team. I am just so excited to coach them.
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