The 1999-2000 season might be regarded as the greatest season in the history of Columbia swimming. The Lions walked away with awards for Diver of the Year, Swimmer of the Year, and Coaches of the Year. Three members of the squad made the Olympic trials, and they finished sixth overall in the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League Championships.

But after losing various stars to graduation, including diver Daniel Brown and sprinter Gered Doherty, the swim team must look to a new crop of recruits to fill their ranks. Among this year's promising prospects are sprinters Reid Evans, a Texas state 100-yard backstroke and freestyle champion; and Charles Catanach, runner-up in the Tennessee 1500-yard freestyle, along with diver Scott Troob. 

''I'm very optimistic about how Scott is going to perform,'' Diving Head Coach Gordon Spencer said. ''He's a real strong and explosive diver, and he is certainly a fantastic addition to our team. We don't always get a first-year diver that has the high level of skills that Scott has. So in a way it's going to be a very interesting season, just to see how Scott holds up and to see how he can be successful. I certainly think he can.'' 

Among those returning after having marquee seasons are captains Matt Schultz, and Mark Fichera, both seniors, and juniors Hamish Greenaway and Colin Shannahan. Fichera, last year's Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming Champion on the one-meter and three-meter dive, is looking to qualify again for the NCAA tournament. Schultz comes in having taken the EISL title in the 100-yard backstroke.

Also contributing will be sophomore Arpad Sebe, who placed ninth in this summer's Canadian Olympic trials, and he was the runner up in the EISL 200-yard breaststroke. ''He'll give us some frontline strike [in the individual medley and the breaststroke],'' Head Swimming Coach Jim Bolster said. ''Whether or not we have the necessary depth I don't know. We have another freshman by the name of Mike Lee and Chris Guerin who should help.''

Bolster sees the team's strongest events this year as being the sprint freestyle and the backstroke, but he puts some question marks on the distance freestyle and butterfly. 

''Two freshmen, Nick Clements and Mike Bazylewicz, are going to handle [the distance free],'' Bolster said. ''We haven't had a meet yet so we have no idea where they're going to be. This is a fast league. If you had to be honest, you'd say 'well, on paper they haven't done the times of a lot of the kids in the league they're competing against, but both of them swam in the summer, and a good attitude and hard work can make them fly. That's where the difference is.'' 

Bolster continued: ''The past couple of years we really haven't had distance swimmers who've had a good attitude in that event and [for whom] it's been fun to race and help the team out. I think we'll be better off, but how better off I don't know.''

Columbia will see if its dedication has paid off when they meet Davidson on Saturday, Nov. 11. 

Other highlights of the first semester include a three-way meet at Harvard against the Crimson and Army and a three-day road trip to the Notre Dame Invitational at the end of the month, something in which they have never been included in before. There are also home competitions against UMass and the University of Pennsylvania. 

Bolster believes the team has a good chance to go 3-1 before the break, slightly unsure if fourth-year league champion Harvard is within their reach. 

''We'll match them individually in some areas quite well,'' Bolster said. ''But top to bottom they probably have the edge. [But] I feel if we have enough recruiting success we have a great shot.'' 

Of his divers Spencer said simply, ''The team looks solid. We don't want anyone to beat us this year.''

Bolster continued: ''We're certainly optimistic about the veterans and new kids and it certainly could be an exciting year for us. I guess we can blend that all together [because] there are definitely some kids here that continue to raise the bar, so to speak. It happened last year.''