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Ohio Swim and Dive Look to Continue Its Success this Season
10/1/2026 10:17:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
ATHENS, Ohio – Fall in Athens is a busy time for Ohio Athletics, and one more sport is opening its season as the Ohio Swim and Dive team gets under way this week in Coral Gables, Florida against Miami and North Florida. Â
The Bobcats are coming off a strong campaign, where they finished with an overall record of 5-1 and a Mid-American Conference record of 3-1. They also finished second at the MAC Championships at the end of the season. Â
Head coach Mason Norman is now entering his eighth season with Ohio, and he has overseen the growth of the program, a progress that he hopes to continue this season. Â
"We had some success, obviously some individual success, some conference success," Norman said. "I think they did a great job. The team did a great job, and the coaches just preparing them for all that, (but) I still feel like, like any coach would, that there's still opportunities for us to continue to get better."Â
This year's team is a younger group, with just five seniors and 17 underclassmen on the roster this season. Â
Leadership during the offseason and in practice has been a big point of emphasis on a senior class that has made a huge impact on the program.Â
"They (have) got to continue to lead," Norman said of his seniors. "I mean, we're one of those sports where you get very few opportunities to really showcase the racing and the times. A lot of that body of work that that goes into the season, is done in the training pool."Â
In back-to-back years, Ohio has finished with a winning record as well as a second-place finish at the MAC Championships. That level of success is something that the upperclassmen on the team have been accustomed to, and something they want to keep going. Â
The leadership regarding the standard for the program from the upperclassmen has been huge as well, leading by example for a team that is relatively young.Â
"I think the freshmen expect it maybe, or the sophomores expect it to be in (the top of the MAC), but you know, many of those upperclassmen know what it's like not to be," Norman said. "We've kind of been at the top, and I think that that mentality is really good for us to continue to feel like we have a chip on our shoulder and we have something that we got to go out and prove every day."Â
Headlining the senior class this season is Serbian senior Zita Szoke. In her time at Ohio, Szoke has been nothing short of dominant, setting multiple school and MAC records in her time in the Green and White. Â
Two years ago, she was named an All-American, the first Ohio swimmer to do so since 2000. This season, she is looking to leave a further impact. Â
"I think she really has some things that she wants to accomplish individually. I think a lot of that comes in the realm, being able to represent her country," Norman said. "Obviously, she's got some stuff that she wants to accomplish at NCAA's that she hasn't done yet."Â
Szoke and the entire Ohio squad will be traveling south to kick off their season this weekend, as they aim to start the season on the right foot. Â
"It's still early season, I think we're going to go fast," Norman said. "We're going to do a little bit of a different format on Saturday, which I think will be unique and fun and exciting for them to get the year started."Â
After their trip to Miami, Ohio will return to Athens on Saturday, Oct. 10 for the annual Green and White Scrimmage at 11 a.m. ET. Â
#OUohyeahÂ
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