Q: What were your primary responsibilities as a coach this year?
A: I predominately teach individual lessons, whether that's Mini Stingers, Learn to Swim, or technique lessons for kids on the team. I also coached 6 & under practice this summer. At meets, I'm usually lining 8 & unders up for their races, helping swimmers navigate pre-race nerves, giving advice behind the blocks, cheering, or struggling to set up an umbrella. My favorite part of my job is having fun with Spirit Week! I made tons of plates for the OMPA caravan, and I (almost) froze to death in the dunk tank this year.
Q: Do you plan on coming back as a coach next year?
A: Maybe! I'll definitely be back for practice and Learn to Swim lessons in the spring, but I'm also applying for STEM research programs and internships next summer.
Q: What school do you attend right now?
A: I'm a junior at The College Preparatory School.
Q: What are some things that you're looking forward to in the next few months?
A: I'm not sure if "looking forward" is exactly the right term, but I'm expecting a really heavy workload at school this year as I become an upperclassman. Unfortunately, I'll be spending more time at school than the pool this fall, but I hope to come back for a few lessons and workouts!
Q: What are some of your favorite things to do with your friends?
A: I absolutely love thrifting. My best friends and I go all the time, and despite my best efforts to save my paychecks from OPP, I'm always shopping for funky, cute, and unique new clothes. My friend group also has some of the craziest, most creative inside jokes and pranks ever. We spend most of our time just talking about random stuff, though.
Q: What are some of your best memories that you've had here at OPP?
A: The Stingray Ball is always the highlight of the season for me. My all-time favorite Stingray Ball happened the year I was 7. I was so excited because the theme was Stars, so I dressed up as Katy Perry, my very favorite pop star at the time. My Mini Stingers coach was my date, and my older cousins also danced with me and made the night feel so special. I have to admit that the Stingray Ball does lose a bit of its magic as you get older, but making it just as much fun for the kids now as it was for me as a 7-year-old is a whole new level of joy that I'm so grateful I can experience as a coach.
Q: Do you have any suggestions for kids that want to really improve between now and the start of our next swim season?
A: Go to fall swim!! Even if it's just a couple days a week, keeping that momentum from the summer going is really important. Spring clinics and practice can also help you come into Time Trials next year with fast times.
Q: Do you have any advice for parents that want to help their children decide if swim is something that they might want to pursue?
A: The most important thing is that every kid has fun at the pool. If your child feels excited about pursuing swim, it's a really rewarding sport and I'd encourage them. However, it's absolutely vital that your child really, really wants to pursue swim. I wasn't a very fast swimmer when I was younger, and I really appreciate how my parents never pressured me into trying to drop time. Joining my high school varsity team and working harder to achieve faster times was a decision I arrived at entirely by myself, out of my own love for the water, my team, and the sport -- not external pressure.
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