If you were to walk onto the pool deck at Northern Michigan University’s PEIF pool on any Tuesday afternoon, you’ll find about two dozen swimmers for an afternoon’s practice. At the end of this year, just under half of those swimmers are going to graduate.

Head coach Heidi Voigt said a strong upper class really sets the tone for the rest of the year.“Personally, I’m really excited about the season,” Voigt said. “We have 10 seniors this year, which makes it a very veteran team.”

This weekend, the team will compete in the annual Green vs Gold meet at 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at the PEIF pool. Voigt said that it’s always a highly anticipated meet.

“It’s a good meet to find out who’s ready to race,” Voigt said. “To kind of figure out where to put the freshmen. Sometimes they race faster here then at other meets, and they are comfortable and calm and they just let it rip.Crystal Bennet, a junior zoology major and an Australia native, is competing for the Wildcats in her third season. She said she has high hope of being faster this year.

“I would like to get back to freshmen times,” Bennet said. “Everyone looks strong already this year.”

Bennet said she was also surprised how the season seemed to sneak up on her.“It’s crazy, it’s come around so quickly,” Bennet said. “We are already in week five of school, but it just feels good to get back into the pool and back into competition mode again.”

Senior public relations major Megan Crowder said she isn’t feeling emotional or burned out quite yet.

“Senior year is exciting, just a little bit,” Crowder said. “I’m actually more excited for it than I thought.”The ’Cats are set to face off in their first competition this season at Minnesota St. Cloud at 5 p.m. Friday, October 17 and at Minnesota Moorehead at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. NMU will have their first home meet and GLIAC competition against Saginaw Valley State on Nov. 8 at 11 a.m. They will also host Minnesota Mankato on Friday, Oct 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25, and Grand Valley State University Saturday, Nov. 15.

Voigt said the team is ready for the 2014 season.

“I think the team is totally excited for more home meets this year,” Voigt said.“I think moving up in national rankings makes people want to race us more. The team is relieved about staying and competing at home as well. They’ve had to adapt and learn how to sleep on a bus.”