Despite the uncertainty of their future, the University of Maine swimmers and Coach Jeff Wren anticipate a productive semester break training trip.

The uncertainty is because swimming has been targeted by UMaine athletic officials for termination if financial relief is not found for Maine’s struggling athletic program.

“We are looking forward to people making progress that is difficult to generate during the dual meet season,” said Wren. “Actually, we are looking for people to take leaps forward and then maintain that level. This is the time when we reach the peak of anaerobic and aerobic intensity in training.”

Maine’s swimmers will train Dec. 29-Jan. 8 at the outdoor facility of the Naples Florida YMCA from 8-10 a.m. and from 6-8 p.m. daily.

Maine also will race in the Palm Beach College Invitational, a competition where the Black Bears swam very well a year ago. In addition to the pool training, Wren’s comprehensive training schedule includes open water training in the Gulf of Mexico and dryland work at the Naples aquatic center.

Based on first semester performance, Black Bear backstroker Derek Marshall of Camden is ranked first in the league at 1 minute, 58 seconds for the 200-yard back while diver Ricky Keane retains the No. 1 ranking in both the one- and the three-meter events.

Meanwhile distance freestyler Clem Whaling at 10:50 for the 1,000 free ranks among the female leaders in the league as does teammate Jen Denison (25.1 in 50 free, 54.5 in 100 free, and 1:00.4 in 100 fly).

Wren’s men will receive a boost in the middle distance freestyle with the addition of Mike Hutchinson, a transfer from Gettysburg College who has clocked 1:45 in the 200 free.

Admittedly, both the men’s and women’s teams are behind where Wren anticipated in the breaststroke events.

“We have the people who can perform, but their training has been hampered by injuries.” Although Wren expects the return of Kathy Jenkins (1:10 100 breast and 2:30 200 breast) to bolster the women’s racing.

Following the training trip, the Black Bear swimmers face Boston College.

Splashes…. High school swimmers from outside Maine are showing significant interest in the Black Bear program while, according to Wren, in-state swimmers are very hesitant to consider Maine given the instability of Maine’s athletic situation…. Cape Elizabeth and Bangor each have five swimmers competing for Maine, Old Town has three…. Former Maine breaststroker Jon Millett coaches the Waterville Dolphins…. Walt Sweeney, a backstroker who swam for Al Switzer at Maine, is now a musician in Boston and will give a benefit concert for the Homeless in Maine…. Members of the present Black Bear swim teams will serve as attendants at the benefit…. Seventeen of the 21 men on the 1991-92 Black Bear squad are from Maine.