Laden Leads Bentley Swimming And Diving To Milestone Victory

February 19, 2010 by Greg Lederer

Bentley University (Waltham, Mass.) senior swimmer Sam Laden has many memories from swimming on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University. Either swimming for SCSU Head Coach Tim Quill at age 10 or winning a Class L Championship with Cheshire High School, he always seems to rise to the pressure of title meets.
“The pool has a lot of memories for me,” recalled Laden, who enjoys the opportunity to revisit the Bruce Hutchinson Natatorium.
Laden, a 2006 graduate of CHS, added another special experience at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship. Bentley compiled compiled 818.5 points to unseat six-time defending champion and host SCSU (743 points), winning the school's first conference crown from Feb. 5-7. The Falcons had never beaten the Owls before winning the NE-10 Invitational last December.
“It was a little bit of a surprise. When we realized we were in contention, it gave us a renewed goal,” explained Laden.
“It's great. Southern is pretty much unbeatable,” added Bentley Head Coach Mary Kay Samko, who has overseen the program for 14 years. “They have great swimmers and we just happened to have a lot of depth this year.”
Laden contributed heavily to that depth. He placed runner-up for the 200- (1:38.66) and 400-yard (3:36.44) medleys relays, to go along with the 200-yard freestyle team (1:28.44). Laden added top five finishes in the 200-yard breaststroke (third, 2:14.66), 50-yard freestyle (fourth, 22.38), and 400-yard freestyle relay (fifth, 3:17.4).
“It's a nice cap zone, after four years of swimming at Bentley. It's nice to say we (senior class) did it first, but we have a young team and it speaks a lot about them too, ” said Laden, who rebounded from a disqualification in the 100-yard breaststroke. “It sucked, but it is a learning experience. I haven't false started in years.”
Winning the NE-10 crown was a longtime goal for five seniors. Greg McFadden and Laden captain the team together.
“They were very excited because they grasped the history of it,” reflected Samko. “For us, it was climbing up to that point. They've experienced going from third, to second twice, and then first (place).”
Laden was instrumental in bringing the team together. He felt the team was fragmented at the beginning of the season, but their goals brought them together.
“He has become more mature in regards to handling the work and understanding how to swim the races,” said Samko, who actually assisted with the Cheshire YMCA Water Devils (now Sea Dogs) Swim Club in its early years. “I wish we had more Cheshire swimmers because they know how to be a part of a team and work hard.”
“It is nice because we can talk about the same people,” Laden added. “She knows the area and atmosphere that I come from.”
Samko has watched Laden rewrite school history. He owns the 50- (27.36), 100- (58.33), and 200-yard breaststroke (2:07.79) records while nearing the 50-yard freestyle standard (21.81). Laden has swam breaststroke for 15 years and credits duck feet for his success. As a freshman, Laden became the first and only swimmer to crack a minute in the 100-yard breaststroke.
“It wasn't even on my radar. I was hoping to get best times because the practices were different. It was a lot more technique based,” reflected Laden. “It's a good feeling to go under a minute. For any person, that is a big accomplishment. We have kids that are very close to it.”
However, Laden didn't join the program for individual accolades. The team dynamic has been his favorite aspect over the last four years.
“That is the biggest reason I came to Bentley,” said Laden, who lives with three classmates. “All of the five seniors are close.”
A lot of the fondest memories have come on relays. Laden has set records with the 200- (1:37.02) and 400-yard (3:31.07) medley teams, making history on the 200- (1:26.62) and 400-yard (3:13.92) freestyles as well. Classmate Willie Connolly joined him for three of those teams.
“Any of the relay records are more special because it's the time you can say you accomplished something with other people,” explained Laden.
He is quickly approaching the close of a stellar career. Bentley opens the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Championship, this morning in White River Junction, Vermont.
The meet that runs through Sunday, poses a challenge. Bentley had won four consecutive titles, prior to being eclipsed by Keene State College last year. Laden posted four of 13 school records, going under his own record to win the 200-yard breaststroke. He posted five runner-up times.
Keene State returned a deep team as well this winter. Samko hopes her squad benefits from an extended rest between title meets.
“We tried for it last year and just missed,” said Samko. “It would be nice to overtake them this year.”
Laden has captured eight NEISDA titles in his career. They include the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, 200- and 400-yard medley relays, and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
“My goal is to make the D-II (Division II) nationals in breaststroke,” stated Laden.
Laden ended his high school career on a high note, winning consecutive Class L titles for retired boys' head coach Ed Aston. Teammates voted him as a senior captain and he got to celebrate his first class title in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.85).
“It's kind of surreal,” explained Laden, of closing his college career. “It hasn't hit me yet because we are so focused. The biggest shock will be not being with the team every day. I hope I can make the adjustment fairly easy.”