Dec. 17, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Welcome to "Q&A With The Captains," a continuing weekly segment that features a question-and-answer style interview with one of Mizzou men's swimming and diving's team captains. This week we sit down with senior co-captain Joe Wilson.
The men took second at last month's Purdue Invite. What were the biggest factors in turning in a runner-up showing?
Part of it was how unexpected it was. In my four years here I have been to four other invites and this was the first year we were actually battling for first. This time we came in the first day and dominated. We did the same thing the second day. We were like, "Wait a minute, we're in first place." It was a really exciting thing, the excitement of a new experience and being in the top spot. It was a driving force. We went into every race wanting to maintain first place. It was a good feeling.
Not only did you guys come away with a runner-up finish, but the team also led the first two days of the meet. How did it feel to achieve such success at a meet featuring 12th-ranked Purdue and two teams in Louisville and Missouri State that received votes in the latest College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Top 25 Poll?
It just feels amazing. It's such a cool feeling. We've come a long way since I was a freshman. It's like visible progress. I can see point A from where we are at point B now. I'm like, "Oh wow, we've done all right."
What is something funny that happened on the trip?
Us senior got to ride on the rock star bus. That was the most amazing thing in the world. Before the second session of the last day, Coach Hoffer said who was going to get to go on the rock star bus. He almost had a revolution right there just for that bus. The underclassmen almost attacked. He said, "If the seniors want to they can give their spot to an underclassmen." None of us were going to do that!
You guys have a break from competition until mid-January. What kinds of things is the team concentrating on now to stay focused on what is to come in 2008?
Now it's really pounding away and getting as fast as you can. Brian [Hoffer] said this is going to be a period where we're going to get knocked around for the next month-and-a-half, training wise. They're going to pound yards into us. They'll be longer, harder workouts. You gain a level of confidence in your own skills once you go through that kind of training. We're also going to try to maintain the kind of unity that the guy's team has created this season. We'll do some team building stuff that us captains have started planning, including some awesome Mizzou basketball games.
With this being finals week, how did you balance the difficulties associated with the end of the semester with practice and everything else that comes along with being a member of the team?
My finals week was actually not too bad. Last week I had a lot of papers due though, which meant I had to work on them a lot earlier than I normally would have. I had to realize that my time is limited and I need to make the most of every night. But generally speaking, this week's practices are optional... "optional." For those guys who haven't showed up as much, some of the guys will call telling them to come. We try to watch out for each other as best we can. If you don't go this week it's going to make next week that much harder.
What was your most difficult final exam or paper?
My most difficult paper was a 15-page paper that I wrote for my African American Lit.: 1900-Present class. Our professor had us read a novel over a weekend and write a paper proposal on it. Then, a week later, we had to write a 15-page paper on it that you also had to do outside research for. I was in the library every night for three days and then I wrote it over two days. That's how my brain works.
My most difficult final though was in my Shakespeare class. I had to reread four of the plays we covered since our midterm, which took about three days. I identified passages out of those four plays as well as prepared an essay for the exam.
The team moved up to No. 19 in the latest CSCAA poll, which marks the team's highest ever ranking. What are your thoughts on the ranking and what does it mean for the program?
When I see that ranking I see forward progress. Again, it's seeing point A from the vantage point of where we are now at point B. We have made so much progress from where we used to be; not just from last year, but from my freshman year. The progress is visible in everything we do. Our practices are harder and we're working harder in all of them. It's not the same kind of attitude in each workout as we had before. For the team, it's just validation that we're doing the right things. We're as good as we want to be and we're getting closer. It's just a fun feeling.
Are you excited about the team's training trip in January?
Yes and no. I'm a senior so I'm starting to count down all of the last times I will have to do a lot of this training. Like I said, this is the time that training really picks up. But I also have to keep in mind that this is the last time I'm going to experience the camaraderie of the team. We truly have a great team atmosphere here.
What are your plans for the upcoming holiday?
I'm going to eat as much as I possibly can and play with my nephews. I had a great time watching the Mizzou-KU game with my two-year-old nephew. He didn't understand anything. He can't even say tiger. The only thing he can say is roar. Every time he sees a tiger he points it out and says roar.
What are the top three things on your Christmas list?
Beat A&M. Beat A&M. Beat A&M.
While that's a great answer, is there anything you'd like to actually find under the tree on Christmas day?
There are several books I've been wanting. I love to read.