The Wesleyan Wet Wolves competed in the State Swim and Dive Meet at Georgia Tech Feb. 8 and 9. The boys team placed fourth and the girls finished third.
“My general goal as a coach is for the swimmers to reach our full potential, we did that,” said Head Coach Kevin Kadzis. This state team was the smallest team in years, but they did not fail to come out of the two day meet with medals around their necks. “Certain things do not change in a season, but the unique mix of people make each season different and memorable,” said Kadzis.
According to Kadzis, results were: “Girls 200 Medley Relay – 2nd (Hannah Wasmuth, Carson Schiller, Jessie Parish, Amber Mathis), Jacob Price – Diving, 3rd, Hannah Wasmuth – 100 Back, State Champion & 200 IM, 2nd, and Jessie Parish – 50 Free, 2nd & 100 Fly, 3rd. New school records were set by Jessie Parish in the 50 Free and 100 Fly, and by the Girls 200 Medley Relay,” published on the News and Notes. The Wet Wolves Swim and Dive team had an outstanding meet.
“It’s tough to fill a team with a limited roster; they did really well,” said Kadzis. The team was small, but had a great impact on the swim records and had a great season overall.
While the team won many awards, they had a fun-filled season with many memories. Senior diver George Doane said, “My favorite part about the season was making new friends and laughing during practice.” The Dive Team is an enormous part of the Wet Wolves, but they have separate practices from the swimmers. They share their own memories together. “My favorite memory is when sophomore Luke Jackson belly flopped four times in a row. It was one of the best practices,” said Doane.
Both swimmers and divers share a common interest by setting goals at the beginning of the season. Sophomore Mac Howie said, “My goal at the beginning of the season was to swim at state. I was able to swim in the 500.” Swimmers and divers worked hard all season to reach their goals before the State Meet. “My goal at the beginning of the season was to qualify for state finals in the 200 IM and 100 Backstroke. I was able to accomplish both – I was in the C Final for 200 IM, seeded at 27th and for the 100 Backstroke, I was in the B Finals, seeded 20th,” said senior Ian Venkatesan.
This was Doane’s second year on the dive team and has accomplished to learn numerous of dives. “My goal at the beginning of the season was to improve at state, and I accomplished that.” While others have more specific goals, Doane wanted to be better than he was last year.
Venkatesan said, “My favorite part about the season had to be the two-week period leading up to the state meet. The team becomes closer and there is a sense of unity and companionship in such a smaller group. The weeks leading up the State Meet the team has really bonded sharing many memories together.” There are many common memories with the athletes. “My favorite part of the season is hanging out with the teammates during practices and dinners the week before state,” said Howie.
Having a small team, they grow closer than normal teams by the end of the season. Howie said, “My favorite memory is when Carson Schiller just got a spray tan, and she turned out orange. When she got in the water she was like Nemo.”
The swim and dive team accomplished many outstanding achievements. The members of the team who competed in the state meet worked hard throughout the entirety of the season.
