"I think everyone on the team wants to be a part of what we're doing," Peluse said. "This can't do anything but get us ready to go. When everyone is 100%, we're bound to stand out."

Harvard has put this unity to the test and has begun the 2000-2001 season with more individual and team success than in any recent season.

The Crimson has been on a roll. The team set four pool records at Cornell last weekend. Pia Chock broke the school record in the 200-yard butterfly at a scrimmage against Northeastern. This is not even the captain's best event.

And in addition, multiple athletes have racked up personal best and in-season best times so far. Junior Janna McDougall has posted conference-leading times in her first races of the season. This type of promise so early in the season is unfamiliar, but not unexpected.

"All of the people we have on our team are really dedicated," sophomore freestyler Victoria Chang said.

That dedication has carried over to other aspects of training and its showing up in the pool and on the boards.

"We're more focused than last year," sophomore sprinter Christin McConnell said. "We're training a lot more quality yardage. Training is very individualized and this regimen is going to help the team."