By Jack Longo
After bouncing back to win another AUS championship last season, the Dalhousie Tigers men’s swim team is ready to go on another run like the one that was broken up in 2020.
The most dominant team in Atlantic University Sports when it comes to the water, Dalhousie always has a target on its back when a new season begins. Reigning AUS coach of the year Lance Cansdale has led Dalhousie to nine AUS championships in his 10 years with the program and looks to have another deeply talented team at his disposal this season.
Last season saw the Tigers bounce back after their 20-year winning streak was broken in 2020 and having to endure a cancelled season in 2021.
The Tigers were led by AUS swimmer of the year Noah Mascoll-Gomes. The returnee to this year’s squad won more events last season than any other male swimmer in the conference. Another notable performer last season, Adam Bouma, earned both the AUS championship rookie and swimmer of the meet awards at the final competition. He was just the second Tiger to ever earn both awards in the same year and will be returning alongside Mascoll-Gomes this season. Additional leaders returning to this team include Logan Sparkes and Liam Ferguson.
After winning 13 events at the AUS championship to win the title, the Tigers headed to l’Université de Laval for the U SPORTS championships. Mascoll-Gomes continued his great form with a record-breaking performance in the 100m freestyle final. He set a new Dalhousie and AUS record with his time of 49.50. The 4x100m freestyle relay team also set a new Dalhousie and AUS record with a time of 3:42:00.
Now, with just a few departing swimmers and a good crop of new arrivals, Dalhousie looks set to dominate in the pool once again this season.
That theory was tested last weekend at the Amby Legere Invitational, hosted by the University of New Brunswick. The Tigers won nine of the 17 events, with Sparkes winning three and Mascoll-Gomes two.
Up next, the Tigers head to the Jack Scholz Invitational at Acadia University on October 29th and 30th, followed by the Kemp-Fry Invitational at home. After the holiday break, they host the DAL-ACA Dual Meet @ Dalplex on January 14th before heading to the AUS championships at Memorial University from February 10-12.