ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The 2018-19 swimming and diving season is quickly approaching and with that comes the naming of team captains.
Seniors Emily Huffer and Allyson Concepcion have been charged with the captain title for the Lobos, an honor that both don’t take lightly.
“Personally, being named team captain is a lot of responsibility but a huge honor,” said Huffer, a Whidbey Island, Wash., native who competes in the butterfly and freestyle. “I’m grateful that I was selected and I hope my teammates are proud of the work I’ve done and know that they can come to me for anything.”
For diver Concepcion, “Being a captain means you setting and being an example for your team. Your actions and attitude are setting a tone for the rest of your team.
“Being a captain means you are helping and guiding your teammates to be the best athletes they possibly can be in order to make your team the best. You do not use power or dominance to get your teammates to do what you want; you have to guide them in the right direction.”
As the senior member of the five-woman diving squad, the Reno, Nev., native understands that she will need to fall back on her own experiences to lead by example and that it starts by her own attitude.
“I believe a big part of leading a team is leading by example. If I have a bad attitude or start negatively talking about something or someone, then it is showing my team that this is appropriate behavior and they will follow in my lead. I try to always keep a positive mindset and keep encouraging my team to be positive in order to create a better training environment.
“I am also a strong believer that there is power in numbers. I think the bonds within a team should be strong and interconnected.”
Huffer echoed that sentiment, saying that, “As captain, I hope that I help encourage, motivate, and maintain a positive atmosphere for our team in the good times and the hard times. No one likes to struggle, but I hope I help my teammates to realize that when you’re hurting, you’re improving, and it’ll all pay off in the end.”
Huffer enters her final season with the Cherry and Silver after a successful junior campaign, including several wins, runner-up finishes and school records. A communications major, Huffer won the 200-yard butterfly against Wyoming and the 200-yard backstroke versus New Mexico State. She finished second in the 200-yard butterfly and 200-yard medley relay versus New Mexico State as well as in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Huffer was also a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team that broke the school record at the Mountain West Championships with a time of 7:12.43, and was a member of the relay team that previously held the record. At the MW Championships, Huffer also set the school record in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:58.30 to finish second in the preliminaries. She earned all-conference honors in the 200-yard butterfly to conclude the season.
Concepcion started the 2017-18 season with a three-meter dive win at Denver and had two second-place finishes to highlight the season. She finished second in the one-meter and three-meter competition versus the Cowboys and placed second in the three-meter versus the Aggies. Concepcion earned all-conference honors in the platform dive at the MW Championships before she capped the season at the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships.
The Lobos begin the season on Friday, Oct. 12 at the Pac Invitational hosted by the University of Pacific. The two-day event will begin at 7 p.m. MT on Friday and resume on Saturday at 10 a.m MT.