Mark Sowa has been around swimming and diving long enough that he knows every class has its trials and tribulations. The six seniors who are in the final weeks of their Vandal careers fit that exactly – from the highs of placing at the conference championship meet to the lows of having a career end too soon because of injury.
 
Saturday is their final competition at the UI Swim Center and they will be recognized for their contributions to their team as Idaho takes on Grand Canyon University at 11 a.m.
 
"As far as senior day, it's always bittersweet," Sowa said. "It's neat because it's the beginning of the end of that journey for a lot of kids. You see a lot of emotion. You see a lot of emotion within the performances but you also see a lot of joy."
 
While their collegiate paths have varied greatly, the common bond of the seniors is the sense of family within the team.
 
"All of their journeys have been really different and diverse but there is a reason to celebrate and there is a reason to celebrate the process and perspective and who they are as people," Sowa said.
 
This year's seniors are Sophie Britzmann (Kaui, Hawai`i), Kelly Giffey (Chehalis, Wash.), Mia Goodwin (Boise), Jackie Himmelberger (Genesee), Victoria Papke (Lakewood, Colo.) and Nicole Weinman (Richland, Wash.). Here are Sowa's thoughts of each of them and their time at Idaho.
 
Weinman (never was able to compete after elbow surgeries her freshman and sophomore years; coaches youth swimming and is media relations liaison for the team): The interesting part about Nicole is right away, she said, 'What else can I do?' She has fulfilled just about every role you can ask for on the team. Some of it not as glamorous; some of it a lot of grunt work. Watching her coach little kids within the Vandal Aquatic Club – she's given so much to the sport. What's neat about Nicole is she reflects well on our team. Her teammates came up and asked me if we were going to honor Nicole at senior day. To me, that says a lot about A) Nicole and B) the environment we've established. She hasn't competed for three years and they wanted to honor her.
 
Himmelberger (hampered by injury after scoring at the WAC meet as a freshman): She probably has more hours in the Idaho natatorium than anybody. She came from a limited club background but she was just dripping talent and dripping speed.  She's a consummate competitor; loved to race. Every time she had the opportunity to race, she was great. She got one more opportunity to do that this year. She led off one of our relays at home. She showed a lot of speed for someone who hadn't been training full time. When she decided to walk away she did so on her terms. I really appreciate that. That's why we're celebrating her.
 
Britzmann: When she walked into my office as a high school senior saying that she wanted to be a Vandal, I knew that she was someone we needed to have. As a walkon, she really turned herself into a very, very good Division I swimmer. What I can say about Sophie is her teammates absolutely adore her. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body. She is just without guile. She is the nicest, nicest sweetest young lady. She has turned herself into a heck of an athlete.
 
Giffey: I've probably spent as much time coaching that kid as anybody in that pool because she stayed here every summer trying to figure out to reach her maximum potential. Kelly so desperately wants to be good you can see it every day. Her junior year she was elected captain by her teammates and has been a two-year captain. Again, starting off her career as a recruited walkon and by her junior year being a captain, says a heck of a lot about Kelly but even more so about what our girls value and our girls value what she brings to the pool every day. She's uber competitive but also brings out the best in her teammates. She's incredibly thoughtful with her approach. It's been fun watching her turn herself into a heck of a Division I swimmer.
 
Goodwin: Mia was elected captain her senior year. Mia is able to lead in different ways. No matter what social group it is, she is able to speak a language that appeals to all of her teammates. She has a wide range of events – from the 100 breaststroke all the way up to the mile, which shows the diversity and skill set that she has. She always has a smile on her face when she's racing and really appreciates what this sport gives her and has given a ton back to her team.
 
Papke: Tori's progression has been pretty extraordinary in a lot of ways. She started out scratching and clawing her way onto our scoring roster. By her junior year, she was a top eight finalist in three events. She has led off our medley relays throughout her time here. She is one of the best individual medley swimmers we've had on this team; one of the best backstrokers we've had on this team, and one of the best fliers we've had on this team. Tori has a ton of ability. Again, a tremendous competitor and bleeds Vandal black and gold. She just loves being a Vandal.