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FARMER'S KORNER — For senior captains Ashley Petersen and Kayla Gray the upcoming swimming and diving season is going to take some getting used to. Sure, both swimmers are well aware of the rigors of training, the technique of flip turns and everything else that comes with being an experienced varsity swimmer, but the one thing they've never really dealt with is numbers.
That is to say, with 34 swimmers and 10 divers on the roster for Summit High, it's easily the biggest team either girl has been on.
“It's weird having this big of team,” Petersen said. “A couple years ago, we had about 20 girls on the team, and that's including divers. ... It grew a lot.
“We're really excited about this year. We have a lot of new people, so we have more than half our team that hasn't swam before. We're just trying to get together and keep everyone close.”
Gray said the large amount of swimmers may actually help the new girls get acclimated quicker to the sport.
“It'll be nice for people to swim less events,” she said. “It's really intimidating to go into a race when you don't really know what you're doing. This helps everyone to get into it slowly.”
The swelling roster and influx of rookies to the pool shouldn't give the picture of a rebuilding year for Summit, though. With a slew of solid seniors returning from last season's team, as well as a good group of experienced juniors and sophomores, the Tigers are looking for a big year when their season gets under way Thursday against Golden High School.
“We have a lot of athletes on the team, so we have a lot of potential,” Gray said.
SHS head coach Jenny Wischmeyer certainly agrees with her captain. In her ninth season at the helm for Summit, Wischmeyer thinks this year's squad could be as good as any. As for all the newcomers to the team, Wischmeyer expects them to contribute very well.
“The girls that are new have been in other sports, so they should have that athletic drive,” the coach said. “It's just a matter of getting them used to it.”
And that's what the Tigers have been working on.
Wischmeyer said her team is basically broken into two categories in terms of training needs. The experienced girls concentrate more on technique and racing strategy, while the newer members are learning the basics like stroke technique, flip turns and starts.
“I'm really excited about all of them. They all seem super enthusiastic,” Wischmeyer said.
Although swim racing certainly isn't as easy as hopping in a pool, Gray doesn't think it'll take most of the team too long to get used to racing.
“Most of it is just getting in shape,” she said. “So, we're just packing on the yardage. That's the biggest thing.”
Both captains said their most important role is helping the girls feel like part of the team. With so many swimmers and divers, that may seem tough, but with the amount of time they spend together, Petersen thinks it'll come along naturally.
“We have morning practices, so we're up together at 6 a.m. and jumping in the pool,” she said. “That helps keep everyone close, just trying to get ready for school in 20 minutes. We have two showers to shower the whole teams so ... it's hard not to be close.”
Beyond Gray and Petersen, Wischmeyer said she expects veterans like Katie Lowe, Katy Andrews and Julie Arbuckle to help lead the swimmers, as well as freshman Olya Aden. On the diving side, the Tiger coach thinks Emily Johnson, Gabi Ketzenbarger, Hope Sharr and Rachel Lawlis will have big seasons.
The team's overall goal is to qualify a relay team for state, something that hasn't happened for the Tigers in a decade.
Although, that's not really Wischmeyer's focus.
“My goal for this team is for every girl to succeed individually, to start with their times at the beginning of the season and improve and get faster,” she said. “ ... We want them to have a really positive experience of having fun, getting in shape and learning to compete. That's always been my goal for the girls is to swim best times, and if we happen to qualify for state in a relay, then that would be awesome.”
For now, Wischmeyer is simply concerned with a problem that coaches love to have.
“It's probably going to be a huge challenge just getting them all into the meets,” she said.
That is to say, with 34 swimmers and 10 divers on the roster for Summit High, it's easily the biggest team either girl has been on.
“It's weird having this big of team,” Petersen said. “A couple years ago, we had about 20 girls on the team, and that's including divers. ... It grew a lot.
“We're really excited about this year. We have a lot of new people, so we have more than half our team that hasn't swam before. We're just trying to get together and keep everyone close.”
Gray said the large amount of swimmers may actually help the new girls get acclimated quicker to the sport.
“It'll be nice for people to swim less events,” she said. “It's really intimidating to go into a race when you don't really know what you're doing. This helps everyone to get into it slowly.”
The swelling roster and influx of rookies to the pool shouldn't give the picture of a rebuilding year for Summit, though. With a slew of solid seniors returning from last season's team, as well as a good group of experienced juniors and sophomores, the Tigers are looking for a big year when their season gets under way Thursday against Golden High School.
“We have a lot of athletes on the team, so we have a lot of potential,” Gray said.
SHS head coach Jenny Wischmeyer certainly agrees with her captain. In her ninth season at the helm for Summit, Wischmeyer thinks this year's squad could be as good as any. As for all the newcomers to the team, Wischmeyer expects them to contribute very well.
“The girls that are new have been in other sports, so they should have that athletic drive,” the coach said. “It's just a matter of getting them used to it.”
And that's what the Tigers have been working on.
Wischmeyer said her team is basically broken into two categories in terms of training needs. The experienced girls concentrate more on technique and racing strategy, while the newer members are learning the basics like stroke technique, flip turns and starts.
“I'm really excited about all of them. They all seem super enthusiastic,” Wischmeyer said.
Although swim racing certainly isn't as easy as hopping in a pool, Gray doesn't think it'll take most of the team too long to get used to racing.
“Most of it is just getting in shape,” she said. “So, we're just packing on the yardage. That's the biggest thing.”
Both captains said their most important role is helping the girls feel like part of the team. With so many swimmers and divers, that may seem tough, but with the amount of time they spend together, Petersen thinks it'll come along naturally.
“We have morning practices, so we're up together at 6 a.m. and jumping in the pool,” she said. “That helps keep everyone close, just trying to get ready for school in 20 minutes. We have two showers to shower the whole teams so ... it's hard not to be close.”
Beyond Gray and Petersen, Wischmeyer said she expects veterans like Katie Lowe, Katy Andrews and Julie Arbuckle to help lead the swimmers, as well as freshman Olya Aden. On the diving side, the Tiger coach thinks Emily Johnson, Gabi Ketzenbarger, Hope Sharr and Rachel Lawlis will have big seasons.
The team's overall goal is to qualify a relay team for state, something that hasn't happened for the Tigers in a decade.
Although, that's not really Wischmeyer's focus.
“My goal for this team is for every girl to succeed individually, to start with their times at the beginning of the season and improve and get faster,” she said. “ ... We want them to have a really positive experience of having fun, getting in shape and learning to compete. That's always been my goal for the girls is to swim best times, and if we happen to qualify for state in a relay, then that would be awesome.”
For now, Wischmeyer is simply concerned with a problem that coaches love to have.
“It's probably going to be a huge challenge just getting them all into the meets,” she said.
