The disappointment of not making the bus for the championships did not get members of the men's and women's swimming teams down.
Instead of traveling to Princeton for the Ivy League championships or EISL championships, those swimmers will compete in the ECAC Championships in Massachusetts this weekend. For most attending, this will be the end of their season.
"This is their championship meet," head coach Mike Schnur said. "It is a meet for people who didn't qualify for Ivy League championships."
The young teams consisting of almost all freshman and sophomores, with the exception of two upperclassmen, will be able to get more experience in college-level meets.
For the Ivy League championships, the team is only allowed to bring a limited number of swimmers. With the strong teams that the Quakers have this season, Schnur said that the decision of who to take was difficult.
A main component of the meet this weekend will be the relays. The Red and Blue has set its highest expectations on the 200 and 400 relays. Freshman Chris Buck looks to be a key not only his main events, the 200 and 300 free but also on the relays.
"We have some good swimmers going," Schnur said. "We are looking to compete for the top 2, 3, 4, teams."
Each athlete this weekend is able to swim in three individual races and four relays, which will make the weekend just as tiring as those competing in the Ivy championships.
"There are relays in the morning and night," Schnur said. "The relays are what they are there for as well as swimming their best times of the season."
Although the entire women's team will be divided into two different locations, morale is still high. In-between races members of the team will call each other to see the standings of the opposite meet.
"Everyone is linked together and wants to know how everyone else did," Schnur said. "On the way up to the meet in Massachusetts the team is going to stop at the Ivy championships and watch some of the races for team support."
And although ECACs will not feature the top athletes, each swimmer will still be looking for a new personal best.
"It is a great competition and we are sending some great athletes," Schnur said. "It would be nice to see our men get top 5."
