The girls swim team works to improve all-around this upcoming season.
Retired science teacher and head coach Laura Eldredge leads the team for her 31st season with Ocean Lakes.
“I believe that this year’s group is further developed in skills than previous seasons,” Eldredge said. “I am spending a great deal of the practice time on fine-tuning their skills.”
Competitions include 24 events such as individual medley (IM) relay, 200m freestyle, 200m IM, 50m freestyle, diving, 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle relay, 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke, according to senior Samantha Grimes.
A majority of the girls prepare by attending practices for Ocean Lakes along with their club practices.
The seniors lead and close every practice with motivation, according to Eldredge.
“I think this season will be better than last year for the girls team especially since we have a lot of seniors and the girls who participate in club swimming are constantly improving their times,” senior Julia Swartzbaugh said.
Each practice focuses on a different skill; sometimes it is distance, sprints or stroke work, and their practices run from 2:45- 4 p.m. at the Seatack Recreation Center.
Every season, the girls join together before meets for a pregame tradition and have pasta parties. These pasta parties provide opportunities for team bonding.
“I love how much fun the pasta parties are and how they bring us together as a team,” Samantha said. “It also helps us get in the head space for our upcoming meets.”
The team will compete against Cox High School at their next meet at the Bayside Recreation Center on Dec. 20, 2024.
“My goal for this season is to be as successful as possible, ensure that the swimmers/divers improve and feel like they are important to the development of the team,” Eldredge said.
