VOL. XXVIII, NO. 1
OCTOBER 1, 1986
Swim team displays winning attitude
by Sue Murphy
Summer is over, and the public pools are closed, but swimming is not over for the year yet. Interscholastic swimming competition begins in autumn.
As the weather turns cold, the girls' swim team turns to their indoor pools and concentrates on correcting stroke mechanisms, decreasing times and increasing team victories.
The Maine West girls' swim team, led by Captain Laurie Esposito '87, has, according to Head Coach John Carle, come back ready for, if not a successful season, at least a solidly respectable one. True, the team is 0-2 as of this writing, having lost to Maine South and Hersey: but Coach Carle sees brighter possibilities for his team. "We've had people come back healthier this year," he told the Westerner.
"Laurie Esposito and Beth Bishop '87 are both looking stronger this season." In fact, as Mr. Cane pointed out, Laurie, Beth and most of the other returning swimmers showed strength by coming in at, or, near their personal best times of the year in the first meet against Maine South. This means that they don't have to work to reach last year's level of achievement all over again - they can simply start to improve on it immediately.
The general attitude of the team has also improved since last year. "Our greatest strength this year is the attitude I see at practice," said Coach Carle. "Everybody's working harder and not complaining as much. I also see a little more aggression this year, which I've wanted to see for a long time," he continued. Coach Carle has often said his girl's team was too "nice" - not competitive enough, and thus he has tried to instill a tougher spirit in the swimmers.
Summer is over, and the public pools are closed, but swimming is not over for the year yet. Interscholastic swimming competition begins in autumn.
As the weather turns cold, the girls' swim team turns to their indoor pools and concentrates on correcting stroke mechanisms, decreasing times and increasing team victories.
The Maine West girls' swim team, led by Captain Laurie Esposito '87, has, according to Head Coach John Carle, come back ready for, if not a successful season, at least a solidly respectable one. True, the team is 0-2 as of this writing, having lost to Maine South and Hersey: but Coach Carle sees brighter possibilities for his team. "We've had people come back healthier this year," he told the Westerner.
"Laurie Esposito and Beth Bishop '87 are both looking stronger this season." In fact, as Mr. Cane pointed out, Laurie, Beth and most of the other returning swimmers showed strength by coming in at, or, near their personal best times of the year in the first meet against Maine South. This means that they don't have to work to reach last year's level of achievement all over again - they can simply start to improve on it immediately.
The general attitude of the team has also improved since last year. "Our greatest strength this year is the attitude I see at practice," said Coach Carle. "Everybody's working harder and not complaining as much. I also see a little more aggression this year, which I've wanted to see for a long time," he continued. Coach Carle has often said his girl's team was too "nice" - not competitive enough, and thus he has tried to instill a tougher spirit in the swimmers.
Another one of the‑team's strengths this year is junior Heather Ertle. Heather swam a 50 yard freestyle race against Maine South in: 25.22 seconds, below state qualifying time (:25.35) for this year. Four days later, against Hersey, she swam a 50 yard freestyle in : 25.15.
State qualifying time in a dual meet, however, does not guarantee a trip to the state meet. Only those who swim a state qualifying time in the sectional meet in November will be able to compete in the state championships.
When asked about Heather's chances of going to state, Mr. Carle said, '1 don't like to make predictions. There are too many variables." Variables such as the possibility of having an "off" day at sectionals, could prevent Heather from going to state. "I don't like the sectional system," Mr. Carle added. Still, he said, "Anybody who swims state qualifying time in the first meet of the season has a good chance of making it to state."
Coach Carle’s goal for the team this year is to finish third in the conference, improving on last year's fourth place finish, "We have the potential," he told the Westerner.
He sees hope for this year and for the next few years in the fact that competing schools are beginning to feel the effects of the declining enrollment that Maine West has suffered for a long time. "Look at what happened to Maine South's JV (West's JV beat them) They just don't have the bodies. Not many people are going out for swimming anymore."
State qualifying time in a dual meet, however, does not guarantee a trip to the state meet. Only those who swim a state qualifying time in the sectional meet in November will be able to compete in the state championships.
When asked about Heather's chances of going to state, Mr. Carle said, '1 don't like to make predictions. There are too many variables." Variables such as the possibility of having an "off" day at sectionals, could prevent Heather from going to state. "I don't like the sectional system," Mr. Carle added. Still, he said, "Anybody who swims state qualifying time in the first meet of the season has a good chance of making it to state."
Coach Carle’s goal for the team this year is to finish third in the conference, improving on last year's fourth place finish, "We have the potential," he told the Westerner.
He sees hope for this year and for the next few years in the fact that competing schools are beginning to feel the effects of the declining enrollment that Maine West has suffered for a long time. "Look at what happened to Maine South's JV (West's JV beat them) They just don't have the bodies. Not many people are going out for swimming anymore."
