Swim team bigger and striving for better

The Wrangell High School Swim Team held a parent/student meeting last Wednesday, Aug. 21. Coach Jamie Roberts called everyone together to give them a basic overview of what the upcoming season will look like, and to discuss her expectations from the team. In short, she expects everyone to do their best and push their limits.

“I want your kids to show up to practice with a good attitude, bad attitudes are contagious,” she said. “They just have to give their best effort when they show up. Show up on time, if you’re not going to be there let me know, I do track attendance. Whenever you are out and about representing Wrangell High School as a swimmer, or even as a student, that reflects on your school and your coaches, so we just ask that you be respectful, polite, have good team spirit, good sportsmanship.”

Roberts also emphasized that she wants her swimmers to always put school first ahead of sports, and to keep their grades up. She also told them to keep in shape and be careful about how they are eating and that they should avoid sodas and energy drinks for the season.

Another update Roberts had is that the team has grown from last year. Last year’s swim team had eight members, she said. This year they are up to 11, with the possibility of two more signing on later. This is exciting news, Roberts said, because they finally have enough swimmers for a boys’ relay team, and not just a girls’ relay team. Though she is managing more swimmers, she said that the goal for the team remains the same: Keep pushing to be better.

“Basically we use our meets as an opportunity to see how our training is going, and practice, and to keep pushing us to excel as we head into regionals in early November,” she said.

The swim season officially opened on Aug. 7. Their first meet was originally scheduled for Sept. 6 and 7 in Sitka. However, due to budget constraints, Roberts said that they would be skipping this meet. The Wrangell swim team will travel to Juneau on Sept. 20 and 21 for their first meet. The season will go until regionals on Nov. 1 and 2, followed by the state championship in Anchorage on Nov. 8 and 9.