This week’s flashback Friday goes to the 2002-03 AUS Championship winning men’s swim team. Back Row (L-R): David Fry (Head Coach), Ryan Hood (Assistant Coach), Michael Lockett, Graham Smith, Rob Coleman, Matthew Terauds, Chris Stewart, Aaron Butler, Michael Terauds, Alex Middleton, Mitchell Cochran, Jimmy Mowbray, Gary MacDonald, Anna Bishop (Manager), Adam Widdis (Assistant Coach). Front Row (L-R): Stephan Banks, Todd Mclean, Michael Gorman, Jason Meadows, Christopher DaSie, Mark Kennedy, James Galvin, Michael Smith, Michael O’Connor.  

The 2002-03 team was looking to repeat for the fifth consecutive year as AUS champions, qualify their highest number of swimmers for CIS Championships, and finish in the top ten in the meet, all three of these goals were realized.

Going into the AUS Championships the Tigers had high expectations of taking home another banner. The team was led by Chris Stewart who won all three breaststroke events and was a part of all three relay winning teams. Matthew Terauds also had three wins in the three backstroke events. Other gold medal winners included Michael Smith, Michael Terauds, Graham Smith, and Rob Coleman. The Tigers would finish the AUS Championships with eleven individuals qualifying for the CIS Championships in Victoria, BC.

The team went into the CIS Championship knowing that they had one of the strongest contingents Dalhousie has ever had. The relay team led the way for Tigers, all team members contributing lifetime best splits, the team of Christ Stewart, Rob Coleman, Michael, and Matthew Terauds claimed bronze in the 400m freestyle relay. All the performances during the championships added to a strong eighth place finish out of 30 teams, achieving the team’s goals and adding the Tigers highest CIS finish in nine years.

The 2016-17 men’s and women’s swim teams are competing at the U SPORTS Swimming Championships this weekend in Sherbrooke, QC.