West Haven, Shelton, Laurelton, East Haven, Branford, and Hamden are all the teams the Foran Girls Swim and Dive team have defeated making the Lady Lions 7-0. The Lady Lions get a lot of support from their friends, family, teammates, coaches, and managers.
Communication and being there for each other is a significant part of the girls’ winning streak.
Senior captain Erin Morton states, “My favorite thing about being captain is connecting with younger teammates and supporting them through their swimming journey.”
Community is a key part of being on a team. However, you also have to meet everyone’s individual needs and goals.
Another way the girls have achieved this winning streak is by prepping goals for themselves.
Head coach Mrs. Kristin Skuches, known as Skoach to the team, keeps track of everyone’s goals by having the girls fill out a Google form of their goals and how they can be achieved before the season starts.
Skoach says, “It’s really just making the time and understanding that it is a team and everybody has a part in the team’s success.”
When it comes to achieving their goals, freshman Anna Piskura has surpassed everyone’s expectations by not having lost a race this season.
Coming back to practice and continuing to work hard is how Piskura returns from disappointing races regarding her time.
Another key part of the Lady Lions’ winning streak is the motivation they receive from Skoach to keep pushing.
The locker room is a key time to give them motivational quotes. Taylor Swift quotes are frequently used to drive the girls to victory. Also, the captains’ motivational speeches to the girls prepare them for their big meets and inspire them.
Besides motivating and helping the girls achieve their goals, Skoach plays a crucial role in making the lineup. This means what event each swimmer is swimming in that day. She said she looks up the other team, sees their times, and matches girls with those times. Skoach also puts the girls in events that she thinks they are the best at and this helps contribute to the wins too.
Throughout the whole season, the girls have become very close from their practice and pasta parties to their meets.
Morton says, “ Once you believe in yourself and what you can achieve it’s easy to spread that positivity to other people.” Which sums up the positive nature of the team.
Overall, the Foran Girls Swim and Dive team has had a very successful season so far.
Their next swim meet is at home on October 21 against Sheehan at 3:45 pm.
