By MOLLY KELLEHER
Spectator Staff Writer

The mighty Lions (5-6, 2-5 Ivy) will make a splash for the last time during the 1998-1999 season this weekend at the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League (EISL) Championship, hosted by Harvard. Months of training and racing will come to an end, with one final chance for the Lions to see how they compare to the rest of the league.

"We haven't had a chance to demonstrate how fully talented we are, and this is our chance," Head Coach Jim Bolster said. "Or, we'll eat crow, but hopefully that won't happen."

As far as Bolster is concerned, this is the one time in the season when everyone is on a level playing field. All athletes are well rested and they look to perform at their best, reaching the height of their capabilities at this final meet.

"This season started off fairly slow for me," first-year Peter Armstrong said. "But as we got closer and closer to Easterns, I began to swim faster and faster, and hopefully this will be where I peak."

Throughout the season this meet remains the focus. At Easterns, the league champions are decided. The winner of the meet, will be champion, regardless of his regular season record.

The Lions are sending 20 athletes, 17 swimmers and three divers to this four-day event, which began yesterday and ends on Sunday.

Bolster is looking to junior Gered Doherty to earn points for the Lions in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly. As a first-year at last year's Easterns, sophomore Matt Schultz placed third in the 100-yard backstroke, so Bolster also hopes he earns points for the team. Along with Doherty and Schultz, sophomore Joe Zdrilic and senior co-captain Sharif Khaleel will fill out the Lion sprint relays, which Bolster also expects will place well.

The middle distance events are led mostly by first-years, according to Bolster. Senior co-captain and distance swimmer Chris Ferris has scored in his last three years at Easterns, so Bolster also looks to him to contribute important points to the Lions.

The undefeated diving team also expects to score big points for the Lions.

To prepare for this important meet, Bolster has lessened the intensity of the workouts, and he will have the swimmers shave their bodies to prevent drag. Bolster's preparation strategy is not much of a secret, however.

"I've mostly been trying to stay out of their way," Bolster said of his athletes. "At this point they all have their own rituals and they know what they need. I just try to sit back and observe."

The coach hopes he'll observe fast swims this weekend and some career-best performances.

The Lions do seem to demonstrate great confidence in their ability to accomplish their goals.

"I believe that with an untested and excited freshman class and upperclassmen that are itching to succeed, this team is going to reach new heights during this meet," first-year Jonathan Fischer said.

In the diving portion of the meet, the Lions will send all three of their divers, first-year Stu Machir, sophomore Mark Fichera, and junior Daniel Brown. The divers are excited to finish the season off well. Coming off of an undefeated diving season, their expectations remain high.

"We have an opportunity to score a lot of points for the team and make a name for ourselves in the league," Brown said.

Brown, who has had an excellent season, hopes to place in the top eight places on both the three-meter and the one-meter board.

Machir also looks forward to being a part of the anticipated success this weekend.

"Everyone has been diving well lately, and that is a major confidence boost going into this weekend." Machir said. "I think everyone in the league knows what we are capable of, and Easterns is a chance for us to show that."