Senior men look back on their their time at Lehigh ahead of Saturday's regular season finale
1/23/2020 3:05:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the final time in their collegiate careers, six members of the Lehigh men's swimming and diving team will compete in Jacobs Pool against an opponent. Tyler Christ, Kevin Fleck, Rhys Hanley, Nico Lastauskas, Teddy Smith and Walker Wilson will take in all the emotions, joys and memories for the final time as the Mountain Hawks compete against Bucknell on Saturday.
Tyler Christ – Engineering – Reading, Pa. – Muhlenberg
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
TC: My favorite memory is the Loyola dual meet earlier this season when we won by one point. At that meet the team had the most energy, especially at the end when the crowd really started to understand just how close the meet was and what we needed to win.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
TC: I believe we are a tight knit bunch and have stayed closed throughout our 4 years here. We hope we will continue to be as tight knit after swimming is over.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
TC: Going into my last dual meet I am going to approach it just like every other meet I have been a part of during my time here at Lehigh. That is doing my best to prepare to beat Bucknell. I hope I left his team in a better place than we got it, and I hope the younger breaststrokers (Connor Sept, Nick Highman, and Jake Stafford) keep improving like they have been. Knowing I have given my all for 4 years, I am ready to pass the torch to the next group to keep pushing LUSD forward towards a Patriot League championship.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
TC: I am going to miss seeing all my friends in one place every day and relying on each other to push ourselves through the practice.
What are your postgraduate plans?
TC: After graduation I will be starting an Associate Metallurgist research and development position at Carpenter Technology in Reading, PA.
Kevin Fleck – Business – Scotch Plains, N.J. – Union County Magnet
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
KF: Competing against Loyola this year and winning by one point in the last relay. It was a really thrilling meet and I enjoyed watching the success of my teammates.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KF: We are a really tight group of guys.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
KF: It's scary to think that it's all over but I am proud of my accomplishments and my fellow seniors. I can't wait to come back in a few years and see all the new records.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
KF: Laughing with my friends.
What are your postgraduate plans?
KF: I plan to work for PriceWaterhouseCooper (PWC) as a tax accountant in their industry services group.
Rhys Hanley – Arts and Sciences – Martinsville, N.J. – Bridgewater-Raritan Regional
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
RH: My favorite memory from Lehigh swimming and diving is from my first Lehigh Lafayette rivalry dual meet. It was during the 1000 yd freestyle and since I was swimming in the end lane, I was able to I see all of my teammates cheering me on from the start of the race to the very end. The energy was absolutely amazing and you could feel It in the air. During this race was the first time I truly realized I was a part of something bigger than myself and just an overall amazing experience.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
RH: I feel like I have a very close relationship with all of my fellow seniors. Over the past four years we have all forged very tight, close knit bonds that I'm sure will last a life time. from the very beginning, I knew that we were all going to get a long and become close friends. I am truly grateful to have met such an accepting, fun loving and kind group of individuals.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
RH: I am so excited to see what this team will achieve. Everyone has worked so hard this season and I know we're going to have a great meet. I am feeling a lot of nostalgia as I look back and remember all the good times I've had with my teammates.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
RH: I will miss seeing my best friends every single day. I have spent so much time with all of these people over the past four years and it is going to be very difficult adjusting to not seeing them all the time. I have been so lucky to be a part of a team that has allowed me to meet so many incredible and amazing people.
What are your postgraduate plans?
RH: I am planning to stay at Lehigh for a fifth year to complete my masters in Health care systems engineering which will allow me to pursue a career in healthcare consulting.
Nico Lastauskas – Arts and Sciences – Clarks Summit, Pa. – Scranton Prep
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
NL: My favorite memory as a member of the Lehigh swimming and diving team was when we wonour dual meet against Loyola this year by one point. The energy and the atmosphere within
Jacobs pool was amazing and this is something that I will never forget.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
NL: The senior class gets along very well, in fact, we all live together and hangout in our free time with one another. We have done activities such as attend each other's beach houses, go on vacation together, and even our parents enjoy each other's company.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
NL: I am very bittersweet as I enter my last college dual meet. I am going to miss swimming and
training so much, although it will be nice to focus on academics and my future plans more often
without swimming taking up so much of my free time.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
NL: I am going to miss being with the people who mean the most to me each and every day because they push not only to work hard but also to be a better overall individual.
What are your postgraduate plans?
NL: After I graduate, I will be staying at Lehigh for another year to complete a Master's Degree in Healthcare Systems Engineering.
Teddy Smith – Arts and Sciences – Fair Haven, N.J. – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional (Denver)
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
TS: My memory is the ending of the dual meet with Bucknell in the 2018-19 season. We needed first and third in the final relay in order win the meet. The A relay for Lehigh had won, the A relay for Bucknell got second, and it was the responsibility of our B relay to get third and we did result in winning the meet.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
TS: We are all very close, most of us end up eating just about all meals together and all hanging out outside of practice.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
TS: I am very excited to swim the last dual meet at home. It will be awesome to have one last competitive dual meet where we can hopefully finish out the year with a win.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
TS: The friends I've made
What are your postgraduate plans?
TS: After graduation, I will continue lifeguarding for the National Park Service. When the summer season ends, I will be going to Australia to lifeguard on the Gold Coast.
Walker Wilson – Engineering – Richmond, Va. – Henrio
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
WW: Our dual meet against Loyola this year (2019-2020 season) is by far my favorite memory from my time here at Lehigh. The energy and excitement on deck was unreal. We needed three specific things to go our way in order for the men's team to pull out the win that afternoon and we checked all of the boxes. Everyone was cheering, everyone was racing, everyone was giving it their all. In the end, we edged them out in the very last relay and won the meet by one single point. Jacobs Pool erupted. Moments like those remind me why I love this sport and this school so much.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
WW: Our class has been so close since day one. We've grown up from a couple of awkward little freshman to a group of strong individuals that are all headed towards their dreams. No matter how far we go, we'll always be there for each other and find our way back together one day. I love you guys.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
WW: It's definitely not easy to think about nearing the end, but I'm more than ready to get after it one last time in Jacobs Pool with my boys. Bucknell is always a close meet and we're ready to throw down. There's no other group of people I'd rather finish out this chapter of my life with.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
WW: The atmosphere that our team creates is what I'll miss the most. In the pool, we know how to be competitive. In the classroom, we know how to be focused. In life, we know how to enjoy the little things. In all of these areas, we succeed with a smile on our face and a good sense of humor. Being a part of LUSD just makes you feel good, and no matter where you are with the team, it feels like home.
What are your postgraduate plans?
WW: I plan to attend graduate school here at Lehigh to study Management Science and Engineering. Afterwards, I'll return home to Richmond, VA to hopefully work in a firm within the city.
Tyler Christ – Engineering – Reading, Pa. – Muhlenberg
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
TC: My favorite memory is the Loyola dual meet earlier this season when we won by one point. At that meet the team had the most energy, especially at the end when the crowd really started to understand just how close the meet was and what we needed to win.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
TC: I believe we are a tight knit bunch and have stayed closed throughout our 4 years here. We hope we will continue to be as tight knit after swimming is over.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
TC: Going into my last dual meet I am going to approach it just like every other meet I have been a part of during my time here at Lehigh. That is doing my best to prepare to beat Bucknell. I hope I left his team in a better place than we got it, and I hope the younger breaststrokers (Connor Sept, Nick Highman, and Jake Stafford) keep improving like they have been. Knowing I have given my all for 4 years, I am ready to pass the torch to the next group to keep pushing LUSD forward towards a Patriot League championship.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
TC: I am going to miss seeing all my friends in one place every day and relying on each other to push ourselves through the practice.
What are your postgraduate plans?
TC: After graduation I will be starting an Associate Metallurgist research and development position at Carpenter Technology in Reading, PA.
Kevin Fleck – Business – Scotch Plains, N.J. – Union County Magnet
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
KF: Competing against Loyola this year and winning by one point in the last relay. It was a really thrilling meet and I enjoyed watching the success of my teammates.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KF: We are a really tight group of guys.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
KF: It's scary to think that it's all over but I am proud of my accomplishments and my fellow seniors. I can't wait to come back in a few years and see all the new records.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
KF: Laughing with my friends.
What are your postgraduate plans?
KF: I plan to work for PriceWaterhouseCooper (PWC) as a tax accountant in their industry services group.
Rhys Hanley – Arts and Sciences – Martinsville, N.J. – Bridgewater-Raritan Regional
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
RH: My favorite memory from Lehigh swimming and diving is from my first Lehigh Lafayette rivalry dual meet. It was during the 1000 yd freestyle and since I was swimming in the end lane, I was able to I see all of my teammates cheering me on from the start of the race to the very end. The energy was absolutely amazing and you could feel It in the air. During this race was the first time I truly realized I was a part of something bigger than myself and just an overall amazing experience.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
RH: I feel like I have a very close relationship with all of my fellow seniors. Over the past four years we have all forged very tight, close knit bonds that I'm sure will last a life time. from the very beginning, I knew that we were all going to get a long and become close friends. I am truly grateful to have met such an accepting, fun loving and kind group of individuals.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
RH: I am so excited to see what this team will achieve. Everyone has worked so hard this season and I know we're going to have a great meet. I am feeling a lot of nostalgia as I look back and remember all the good times I've had with my teammates.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
RH: I will miss seeing my best friends every single day. I have spent so much time with all of these people over the past four years and it is going to be very difficult adjusting to not seeing them all the time. I have been so lucky to be a part of a team that has allowed me to meet so many incredible and amazing people.
What are your postgraduate plans?
RH: I am planning to stay at Lehigh for a fifth year to complete my masters in Health care systems engineering which will allow me to pursue a career in healthcare consulting.
Nico Lastauskas – Arts and Sciences – Clarks Summit, Pa. – Scranton Prep
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
NL: My favorite memory as a member of the Lehigh swimming and diving team was when we wonour dual meet against Loyola this year by one point. The energy and the atmosphere within
Jacobs pool was amazing and this is something that I will never forget.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
NL: The senior class gets along very well, in fact, we all live together and hangout in our free time with one another. We have done activities such as attend each other's beach houses, go on vacation together, and even our parents enjoy each other's company.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
NL: I am very bittersweet as I enter my last college dual meet. I am going to miss swimming and
training so much, although it will be nice to focus on academics and my future plans more often
without swimming taking up so much of my free time.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
NL: I am going to miss being with the people who mean the most to me each and every day because they push not only to work hard but also to be a better overall individual.
What are your postgraduate plans?
NL: After I graduate, I will be staying at Lehigh for another year to complete a Master's Degree in Healthcare Systems Engineering.
Teddy Smith – Arts and Sciences – Fair Haven, N.J. – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional (Denver)
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
TS: My memory is the ending of the dual meet with Bucknell in the 2018-19 season. We needed first and third in the final relay in order win the meet. The A relay for Lehigh had won, the A relay for Bucknell got second, and it was the responsibility of our B relay to get third and we did result in winning the meet.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
TS: We are all very close, most of us end up eating just about all meals together and all hanging out outside of practice.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
TS: I am very excited to swim the last dual meet at home. It will be awesome to have one last competitive dual meet where we can hopefully finish out the year with a win.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
TS: The friends I've made
What are your postgraduate plans?
TS: After graduation, I will continue lifeguarding for the National Park Service. When the summer season ends, I will be going to Australia to lifeguard on the Gold Coast.
Walker Wilson – Engineering – Richmond, Va. – Henrio
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up to this point? Why
WW: Our dual meet against Loyola this year (2019-2020 season) is by far my favorite memory from my time here at Lehigh. The energy and excitement on deck was unreal. We needed three specific things to go our way in order for the men's team to pull out the win that afternoon and we checked all of the boxes. Everyone was cheering, everyone was racing, everyone was giving it their all. In the end, we edged them out in the very last relay and won the meet by one single point. Jacobs Pool erupted. Moments like those remind me why I love this sport and this school so much.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
WW: Our class has been so close since day one. We've grown up from a couple of awkward little freshman to a group of strong individuals that are all headed towards their dreams. No matter how far we go, we'll always be there for each other and find our way back together one day. I love you guys.
Describe the feeling going into your last home dual meet. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
WW: It's definitely not easy to think about nearing the end, but I'm more than ready to get after it one last time in Jacobs Pool with my boys. Bucknell is always a close meet and we're ready to throw down. There's no other group of people I'd rather finish out this chapter of my life with.
What will you miss the most about Lehigh Swimming and Diving?
WW: The atmosphere that our team creates is what I'll miss the most. In the pool, we know how to be competitive. In the classroom, we know how to be focused. In life, we know how to enjoy the little things. In all of these areas, we succeed with a smile on our face and a good sense of humor. Being a part of LUSD just makes you feel good, and no matter where you are with the team, it feels like home.
What are your postgraduate plans?
WW: I plan to attend graduate school here at Lehigh to study Management Science and Engineering. Afterwards, I'll return home to Richmond, VA to hopefully work in a firm within the city.
Players Mentioned
Breast/IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
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Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Breast/IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Breast/Fly/IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Breast/IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Fly
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Back/Free
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