.png&type=webp)
University of Massachusets Athletics
Backler Prepared For A-10s With A Different Team
February 17, 2009 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 17, 2009
Newburyport, Mass. - By Dan Guttenplan Sports Editor
Backler, a sophomore breaststroker, joined the University of Massachusetts swim team last fall after his previous college, University of Rhode Island, cut its men's swimming program last spring. Backler will swim the same events (500 free, 100 and 200 breakstroke) as last year, only he expects faster times and better finishes. Last year, he placed 12th in the 200 breaststroke (2:08), 14th in the 100 breaststroke (:57) and 16th in the 500 (4:42).
"I'm looking to climb up there," Backler said. "I've done a lot more work here at UMass. The practices have been harder. They're a little more serious about the sport. Overall, I'm fitting in very well."
Backler, a Triton alumnus, swam locally with the North Shore YMCA Sharks prior to his enrollment at URI. When he learned last spring that the program would be cut, he contacted UMass coach Russ Yarworth.
"I really like Coach Russ," Backler said. "He's put a number of numbers on our banners. He's won a lot of A-10 championships. UMass is basically a dynasty in the A-10. I trust everything he's told me, and I believe in my workload and training."
Yarworth was recently named A-10 coach of the year for the ninth time in his 30 years as coach. The Minutemen have won conference titles 10 of the last 13 years.
Due to the increased workload this season, Backler's times did not drastically improve during the dual meet season. He joined the team on its training trip in Puerto Rico in January before Yarworth started tapering his athletes. Through the rest and recuperation period, Backler believes his championship times will show marked improvement.
"The last few weeks, we've really brought down the yardage," Backler said. "We're giving our muscles time to recuperate."
The A-10 meet in Buffalo, N.Y., will be the finale for all UMass swimmers. Backler said even if he qualifies for Senior Nationals, he will not attend the meet in California.
"We only do one championship meet because it's a pretty big expense to travel across the country," Backler said.
Even with the final concerns, he does not foresee UMass following the trend of so many other men's swim teams across the country and cutting its program.
"Definitely not," Backler said. "The swim team here is a pretty big part of the athletic program."
