Swimming into Season
PHOTO COURTESY OF 562: 100 back stroke during the 2021 Moore League swim finals
March 1, 2022
As March rolls around the corner, boys swim splashes into the 2022 season. Since December, they have been putting in the most effort by practicing everyday, and early in the morning three times a week.
“They have been swimming as many yards as possible; around 7,000 to 8,000 yards as we get closer to the season. We also practice four strokes: butterfly, freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke,” says Mr. Smith, the coach for boys swim and water polo teams and Millikan special education history teacher.
Starting off a new season isn’t successful if you’re only physically active, but building a good relationship with the people around you is just as important. Smith says, “We are close. I mean I see the kids everyday. It’s not like there’s a lot of people in aquatics, so we have a family-like relationship.”
Amongst frosh soph, JV, and varsity, there are about 54 swimmers all dedicated to make Millikan proud. Each season, they improve and grow together. “Working with the boys from freshman to seniors, I’ve seen them mature and work hard together to reach our common goal, and have fun while doing it,” says Smith.
Millikan Boys Swim have won second and third place in their league every year and with this season to come, their expectations rise and dedication to the team will strive in order to win first place! Come join us at Cabrillo High School on March 11 for their first meet!
Taylor Thompson • Mar 7, 2022 at 2:46 pm
In Issue 3/2022 (published March 1, 2022), Katie Fleming wrote an article titled “Swimming into season” The article informs us about all the hard work the boys swim program has been putting in as swim season approaches. They have been perfecting the four strokes including: butterfly, back, free style, and breaststroke by swimming as many yards as possible each practice. The article also introduces us to the boys swim and water polo coach, Mr. Smith, who is also a history teacher here at Millikan. Mr. Smith expressed in the article how he has seen the boys on the team mature and grow and sees them as family. Prior to quarantine, when I was in the swim program, during swim season, we would have practice before and after school, causing me to be at school from 6am to 6pm almost everyday. The article informs us that the boys practice in the morning three times a week. The article also mentions that both keeping active and having a steady relationship with all your team members and coaches are equally important. Building a good relationship with the people around you is a gateway to success the article mentions. Flemings urges us to support our school at their first meet March 11th against Cabrillo High school and Cabrillo High school.