Support builds to save teams

At any moment Saturday afternoon, the decibel level deep inside Eppley Recreation Center was liable to pass from ear-splitting to downright deafening.

The noise came from the pool deck at the facility's natatorium, where the swimming team, in its first meet since it was notified of its potential removal from varsity status, overwhelmed UMBC in an inspired display that left little doubt in the outcome from the start.

In front of a raucous crowd decked out with signs, "Save Maryland Swimming and Diving" T-shirts and several hundred screaming supporters, the Terrapins men's swimming and diving teams claimed a 202-98 victory, while the women won, 233-67.

"It was a great atmosphere and they fed off that excitement and did a great job," coach Sean Schimmel said. "They came together today and it was a reflection of the team we are and the team we can be in the future."

The story of the day, however, wasn't the outcome or the standout individual performances that led to that point. Rather, it was the unprecedented outpour of support for what appears to be a program teetering on the edge. After a pregame chant, the Terps walked double-file through the UMBC team, exchanging high-fives in a touching show of support.

Supportive signs hung on the far side of the natatorium, in both the Terps' and UMBC's sections. Nearly all Retrievers swimmers sported some kind of message scrawled on their bodies, from "Save the Terps" to "One Team," to support their in-state rivals.

"We just want to help out how we can," said Jenifer Dillon, the mother of Terps sophomore Brad Dillon, as she peered at the banners and signs adorning Eppley. "I know Brad loves all the support. … He has friends on almost every team in the ACC and some in the SEC that have been showing him support."

Before diving into the meet, each team delivered one last chant. UMBC's squad shouted, "Let's beat Maryland, save the Terps!"

The Terps countered with, "Let's beat UMBC, thanks for your support!"

From that point, it was clear that the Terps' pregame wishes would be granted. On a day when swimming was not the headline story, Terps swimmers came in first in 27 of 32 events, a trend that was established from the start.

These are, undoubtedly, bleak days for the two programs. One swimmer, when the initial reports broke, expressed concern over how difficult it would be for the team to maintain focus throughout the season with potential budget cuts weighing on the swimmers.

But if they were thinking about their futures during the meet, it didn't show Saturday. The Terps looked upbeat, even starting a "Let's go, Maryland" chant that quickly spread to the cheering section.

The Terps also had support far outside College Park. As of Sunday night, a "SAVE UMD SWIMMING & DIVING" Facebook group had more than 12,000 members, with the page's wall inundated by pictures and shows of support from well-wishers across the country.

After the meet's final race, the crowd began to thin out from the bleachers overlooking the eight lanes of water. Those who remained joined the team in singing a post-victory rendition of the university's fight song, an emotional show of solidarity for the Terps and their fans during trying times. After finishing, the team slowly made its way back to the locker room staring down a dark future, unsure of where it was headed next.

benscher@umdbk.com