As the fall season begins, girls’ swim and dive starts back up. Girls’ swim and dive is coached by Mrs. Kristin Skuches and Mr. Brian Dooling. This season, the team aims to win and qualify for the State Opens. So far, they have 6 swimmers who have met state cutoff times.
The team moved up from division two to division one in SCCs, leading to them facing more difficult and stronger teams. This has the team less focused on their win/loss record than they were last season.
“It’s going to be fun to see the girls get pushed and get faster and have better competition,” states Dooling.
Dooling has been the assistant coach for the girls’ swim and dive team for five years. As a small team, he enjoys seeing how quickly his athletes improve.
The team as a whole is excited to move up divisions this season, and the girls have many exciting things coming up in their season.
“Meet wise, I’m really looking forward to the Law meet. It’s always high energy, and last year it was a very close meet, and we never have to worry about getting the girls pumped to swim fast and dive well,” states Skuches.
Skuches has been coaching for 16 years – 11 years being head coach of boys swim and dive, and this is her 10th year with the girls swim and dive team.
The team’s current captains are seniors Alexa White and Chloe Wardman. As captains, their roles are important, highlighting the significance of being a good teammate and supporting one another.
“As a captain, I make sure everyone is respectful to other teams and officials,” says White.
The two also help keep the girls motivated throughout their season, pushing everyone to success and to meet their personal and team goals. They also help coordinate team events like pasta parties and ice cream nights.
“We also emphasize the importance of being a good teammate and showing up for each other. During meets, everyone is always at the other end of the pool or along the side cheering for each other, and encouraging each other to race or dive to our fullest potential,” states Wardaman.
The team has a close bond in which every single team member’s role is important to the team as a whole. Something is followed through by all athletes.
“We include everyone in our team when it comes to pasta parties and winning a meet,” states Lalana Carrol, junior diver on the team.
Besides swimming and diving, the team is involved in other activities, including a fundraiser called Lionheart, where the girls raise money for breast cancer. Lionheart is where the team swims laps, eats food, and plays games.
Though every athlete has their own goal, these girls come together as a team to do well all together and stay proud of each other. Girls’ swim and dive is eager for their season ahead and future meets to come.
