The competition has been elevated. The teams are tougher.

And Eastern couldn’t be happier.

The Panthers begin their second season in the Mid-Continent Conference on Friday when Indiana University at Purdue comes to Lantz Natatorium.

Last season, the women’s team tied for second place while the men’s team finished in fourth place.

There is no surprise that Eastern enjoys playing in Mid-Con. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages, said Panthers head coach Ray Padovan.

“Mid-con brought us in and added some other teams to make this a much more competitive conference,” he said.

This more competitive conference is what the team likes.

“We have been put in a challenging conference,” said sophomore Kevin Boyle. “But we like the competition we face.”

Boyle is not alone with this enthusiasm of the rivals they face.

“It’s harder to be in this conference,” said Neil Wahlgren. “We are a pretty strong team and we might be able to make nationals.”

Because the MCC is a strong conference and holds a championship at the end of the year, the recognition among younger swimmers has increased, Padovan said.

“It’s a good conference,” he said. “We are in a viable conference with a real good meet at the end of the year.”

Some members of the team have taken notice of the difference being in the Mid-con has made with drawing in players.

“We have had a bunch of swimmers come in, a lot of talented freshmen,” Boyle said.

The incoming freshmen that have come to Eastern this year have already shown their progress.

Matt Crittenden, a free sprinter, has had an effect already on the relay teams in helping Eastern capture first place in the 200-yard Freestyle Relay against Illinois-Chicago on Saturday as well as in the team’s opening meet against Louisville.

The only real concern and problem the team has being a part of the Mid-Con is the Oakland Grizzlies being in the MCC. Last season, the Grizzlies won their seventh consecutive title.

“Oakland is a considerably stronger team than all the other teams combined,” Padovan said. “They have a lot of talent. Everyone else is competing for second place.”

The preseason poll, picked by the league’s head coaches, has both the men’s and women’s teams finishing second behind Oakland.

“They are a pretty hard team to beat.” Wahlgren said. “They have some real good swimmers.”