Aragon swim team beats Terra Nova

The Aragon boys and girls varsity swim teams both won their respective meets against Terra Nova on Thursday, April 11 at Aragon.

The Aragon Dons varsity swimming teams have had rough starts to both of their seasons. Their win against Terra Nova follows up consecutive losses against Menlo Atherton and Burlingame, putting their record for the season at 1-2.

Coach Fred Farley says, “We’re a relatively small team going up against schools with many more club swimmers, but we are doing well with what we have.”

When talking about the girls team, Farley adds, “The girls have a relatively younger team, with most of the best swimmers being freshmen and sophomores.”

Sophomore Stephen Schick says, “One of the problems that I, and other swimmers as well, have is putting all my effort and concentration into a race. I mean just taking my mind, shutting it down, and swimming as well as I possibly can.”

Another issue that Schick describes is the lack of commitment by some swimmers. He adds, “If some people don’t show up, then they are not getting the full benefits of the swim team experience.”

To adequately train for the meet, Farley says, “As we get closer to the meets we work on turns, starts, speed work, and more conditioning.”

Freshman Alexandra Magnoli says, “We try to do all of the strokes, diving practice, relays, basically just a toned down version of a meet.”

Farley adds, “Earlier in the week, we like to work on more endurance related exercises, with longer, more stretched out swims.”

Although most swimmers do not do serious cardio work and strength training outside of practice time, “On certain days, [they] do dry land practice, which is push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, and running around the plaza,” adds Magnoli.

There are numerous events in which students can participate at meets—45 events at Thursday’s meet alone. Farley says, “During the season, I give [the swimmers] a variety of events to check out, and by the time they get to PALs, maybe they’ve decided that they like some strokes better than others.”

During the meet, there were multiple events with only one participant. Schick points out freshman Ryan Swan, who “even though he was swimming by himself, he beat my best time that I set for the year. He pushed himself and went all out.”

Farley adds, “During dual meets both the swimmer and I decide what event they do. Once we get to PALs, I’ll let them pick their strong events.”

Several water polo players join the swim team in the spring for extra practice. However, Schick points this out as slightly counterproductive. He says, “Your water polo stroke will completely mess up your swim stroke, and your swim stroke will completely mess up your water polo stroke. Since water polo is short and choppy strokes, and swimming is long and elegant strokes, switching to swimming is very difficult.”

Concludes Schick, “[swimming] keeps me in shape, and requires me to show up to a practice every day of the week, and it puts me on a team with people I enjoy working with.”