Additions to swim program make a splash

Aidan Allegro Staff Writer

The swim program is looking to add a sixth grade team next year, and the program has already made additions to the coaching staff at MMS and MHS to make a splash in growth.

Under the direction of Head Coach Kristen Slifko, the program added two, highly qualified former collegiate competitive swimmers turned coaches. MMS added Coach Madison Jacobi, former Florida State University swimmer, and MHS added Coach Victoria Hall, former Azusa Pacific University swimmer.

Hall coached a Junior Olympics team and has 10 years of experience coaching club teams and seven years of experience coaching highschool teams.

“Under her coaching, I have dropped time and the team as a whole has gotten so much better and faster,” Ryan Thomson (11) said.

The swimmers have adjusted to having additional coaching with Hall alongside Slifko.

“Hall was hard on us but fair, and at this point, because we put in the work she expects from us, she’s really been an excellent coach that gives great feedback,”

Nicolas Common (11) said. “I definitely think I’ve shown a lot of improvement.

I’ve dropped about 4 seconds in my 200 IM and I’ve dropped a good 7 seconds in my 100 butterfly so I really see the effects of Coach Hall pushing us at practice."

Seniors on the team, Darby Dryden, Sophia Ethridge, Jessica Harper, Beauman Iverster, and Jack Vega have adjusted to increased intensity and discipline as well.

“The new coach is definitely intense and is working us really hard this year but I think overall that she made our team stronger and brought some discipline to the team that we very much needed,” Sophia Etheredge (12) said.

The county swim meet took place on Jan. 21. Both teams had success, and the girls ended the meet in 21st place. Several team members also qualified for the recent state swim meet.

As a team, Dylan Buehner, Nicholas Common, Jack Vega, Darby Dryden, Sofia Etheridge, Jessica Harper, Grace Mann, and Julia Lloyd all qualified. Vega, Harper, and Dryden also qualified for individual races.

“It’s a really fun experience because everyone there is at the peak level, everyone is really focused and determined, it’s just a really competitive environment,” Ryan Thompson (11) said.

The boys did not place during the state meet but the girls placed 19th overall.

“It’s been a really fun season. I love the new coach and I’ve been taking her advice and it’s been going great,” Grace Mann (11) said.

Many of the swimmers have been on the team since freshman year and many of those seniors competed in their last state meet this year.

The team consistently qualifies for county with the swimmers placing top in their heat per event. The girls team usually places higher in state than the boys team.

The swim team expects several new swimmers next year from the middle school swim program.