photo credit & permission to print: Caitlin Layne
The swim and dive team is starting their season. With a new head coach and a lot of previous state qualifying swimmers, the team is optimistic about their season.
After placing 36th and 13th in states for the girls and boys teams respectively, the team has high aspirations to compete in states again this season. Junior Ella Longhouse competed in the state 200 medley and 400 free relay last winter.
“I hope this season we can make it to states. Hopefully we have four boys and four girls, for the relay. We should go far with our relays,” Longhouse said.
500 meter freestyle record holder for the school Jamal Deek is also aiming high this season.
“The biggest team goal for this season is to improve our rankings within the state level and compete at the highest level,” Deek said.
Head coach Erick Bey set some goals for the team’s success outside of team statistics.
“The biggest goal for the year is to create a fun and hard working culture for the team. With this, I want each person to achieve their goals, and improve at the end of the season,” Bey said.
Despite success, the swim and dive team has maintained low numbers throughout the last few years. Having only 25 swimmers and two divers this season has big effects on the team.
“With a smaller team we get to pick our events out and get to do what we like. I like being able to pick out what I am swimming at the meet,” Longhouse said.
The large freshman class of swimmers this year has aided the team’s small numbers but not substantially. However the small number of swimmers leads to a tight knit team.
“This year we have added more swimmers to our team due to our freshman class. Yet this doesn’t change our small team. It’s beneficial in a way that you get to know people on more of a personal level,” Deek said.
Having a small number of swimmers and divers on the team has positive and negative effects for Bey as well.
“While we would much prefer for the team to be bigger, the positive side to have a smaller team is that we can give more individual attention to each swimmer during practice and give more personal feedback,” Bey said.
Alongside her goals for the team, Ella Longhouse has goals for her own individual success this swim season.
“This year my goal is to make it to states individually in the 100 breaststroke and our medley relay to make it as well,” Longhouse said.
The swimmers aren’t the only members of the team with individual goals for the season. Erick Bey has set some goals for himself as well. He’s spent the last two seasons as the assistant coach and is now entering his first season as the head coach.
“In my first year as head coach I just want to try and create an atmosphere that is fun and where every swimmer wants to come to practice and looks forward to improving each day. I also plan on listening to the team and assistant coach to look for ways to grow as a coach as well throughout the year,” Bey said.
