“There’s no better example [of work ethic],” Krna said. “He trains harder than anybody in the pool and watching somebody train and race the way he does is inspiration for anybody on the team.”

Cole swept the individual swimming awards for the EISL meet, getting the nod for the Phil Moriarty Award as the weekend’s top performer. He shared the honor the other three years he competed at the EISL championships, and this year he earned the Harold Ulen Award, given to the swimmer with the highest career EISL point total.

“It was my last race at home,” Cole said, “and I was going to give it everything I had.”

That’s a typical refrain for Cole, who finished his Harvard career undefeated in the 500, 1000, and 1650-yard freestyles in EISL competition. Cole is the first swimmer in EISL history to compile a four-year win streak in any of the three distance events—and he established that mark in all of them.

“It was nice to go out with a record like that,” Cole said.

Nicer still is the invite he received to this year’s NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships, held in Minnesota at the end of March. Cole finished seventh in the 1650-yard freestyle in 2003, earning All-America honors.

History suggests he won’t be swimming all alone in the deep NCAA field, but he’s certainly distinguished himself in the EISL record books.

—AIDAN E. TAIT