On Dec. 6, the swim team faced Richland Senior High School and Cambria Heights. This was the first meet of the season. The girls took home the win 97-69-67, and the boys were defeated 64-82-55.
“This is my fourth year swimming, and it’s definitely the most different it has ever been throughout my four years,” senior boys’ captain Trevor Wilson said. “The first three years we did not have nearly 25 swimmers. We had maybe 15, and this year, with the 40 plus that we have, it will definitely help us with meets.”
The team’s expansion was unexpected. The official number of members is 22 girls and 19 boys, bringing the team to 41 members.
Swimmers feel the balance between school and being an athlete can be challenging.
“It’s definitely tough to balance both school and swimming,” senior girls’ captain Charlie Kephart said. “I go to school, then I go to practice, then I try to get all my homework done that night after swimming. It’s definitely a challenge, but I try and manage.”
This is coach Brian Kephart’s first year coaching swimming at the high school. As he is getting to know the members they are getting to know him as well.
“It’s pretty amazing,” B. Kephart said. “There is always a lot of work to be done, both outwardly that everyone can see, and also behind the scenes that’s not really noticed. It definitely keeps me busy. It’s also neat to be responsible for the development of the athletes. I can help shape and influence student-athletes in a positive way. That’s a big deal for me. I want to be a positive force and a good example in their lives”.
Kephart plans to take the team, and improve them in whatever ways they need, whether that is swim scores or times.
“Increasing the numbers is a huge part of our method for improving,” B. Kephart said. “We also want to generate interest in swimming at the junior high and grade school level.”
There are many new swimmers on the team, this meet being the first they ever competed in.This is the advice Wilson had for the newer swimmers.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Wilson said. “Swimming is a pretty hard sport to just pick up and start doing, so you’ll eventually get to it and you’ll start improving the more you swim. So, definitely just be prepared.”
Kephart came into this knowing what he wanted to do with the team, and where he wanted to take them as a group.
“I wanted to have 40 kids on the team,” B. Kephart said. “Our original roster was at 45, I believe. We’ve had a few athletes drop off, so we are right around that 40 mark now. Another goal of the staff was to make sure all swimmers learned all four competitive strokes. Too often in high school swimming, swimmers don’t get a chance to learn all the strokes. We wanted to make sure we teach each athlete each stroke, and give them an opportunity to develop those strokes throughout the year. One other huge goal of ours was to create a positive atmosphere. I want swimming to be fun and enjoyable. I want family, friends and fans to experience that same positive atmosphere when at meets.”
This is C. Kephart’s fourth year on the swim team, so she knows what it’s like being a freshman on the team, and not knowing what to do.
“I try to give advice on things like stroke and technique, and I try to encourage them whenever they’re swimming at practices,’ Charlie Kephart said.
While swimmers might be alone in the water, they have a whole team cheering them on from the sidelines.
“It’s awesome,” B. Kephart said. “I hope my swimmers would say that. It seems like an individual sport, but that’s not true at all. Yes, you compete in a lane by yourself, but you are competing to score points for your team to help get that win. There is a ton of comradery among the team. They practice together, they are in the locker rooms together, they travel together, they cheer each other on at every meet. Many swimmers on the team will be lifelong friends.”
