Even after back-to-back dual meet losses, there is a sense of optimism among players and coaches of the Washington State University swim team.

The Cougars return home Friday for their first meet of the year at Gibb Pool against USC. The team will then travel across the state boarder Saturday to duke it out with Idaho. 

The team is coming off a disappointing start to the season, losing two dual meets in the Bay Area against two of the top powerhouse schools in the nation, the Stanford Cardinals and the California Golden Bears. 

WSU Head Coach Tom Jager said he urges his team to swim with confidence, not be intimidated and be fearless. 

“This team understands that we’re (going to) put ourselves on the whim, we’re not afraid, we want to compete, we want to race,” Jager said. 

The swim team was able to achieve some positives from the road meet last weekend, winning events against Stanford and swimming well against Cal, something Jager said he hopes the team can build off going forward.  The team is training hard this week, and there is an upbeat atmosphere in the pool, he said.

“The expectations are that these kids swim well, they work hard while they’re tired, and I think they can do that,” Jager said. “I think their confidence in the pool for workouts (have) been great, and I’m (going to) believe that’s going to carry through the weekend.”

Sophomore Frederikke Hall is one individual on the team who is stepping up and thriving for the Cougars.  Hall tabbed a second place finish against Cal.  

“I think we’ve got great leaders,” Jager said. “She has stepped up, and she is willing to put herself out on the line, but that’s one of 19 kids.”    

 For Jager, there’s a bit of history in the meet today.  

“My first meet as a Washington State coach was against USC, and they made a point to pound us,” Jager said. “I think that team was shell-shocked. This team will not be.”   

Jager said he is extremely proud of how hard the team is working at the early stages in the year, while facing some of the best collegiate swimmers in the world.

“SC is one of the premier swim programs, and they have been forever,” Jager said. “Our bottom line expectations (are) that these kids try to win the races, they don’t rollover, and they swim great and swim great for themselves.” 

It’s going to take a full-team effort to bounce back against USC, but for a rising swimming program like WSU, wins and losses aren’t everything. 

“That’s the different thing about swimming, our goal is in February, so right now we’re still putting the pieces together,” Jager said.