 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: |
While youth swimming often produces a high-stakes atmosphere, Greg Hand knows that approach won't get the best out of his swimmers on the Community Park (CP) Bluefish.
"This is a unique environment; there is much less pressure," said Hand, the head coach of the summer program. "We practice together and the kids are focused but we don't beat ourselves up. People work to stay fit and get better but also just enjoy training together."
The team's relaxed attitude yielded fine results as the program excelled in dual meets in Division I competition of the Princeton-Area Swimming and Diving Association (PASDA) and produced some fine individual efforts at the PASDA championship meet last week at the John Witherspoon pool.
"We did a great job," said Hand, who also coached the Princeton High boys' and girls' swimming teams in addition to the PHS girls' soccer squad.
"Our record was 4-1 in dual meets; we lost to Cranbury by just a few points, it was a great meet. Regardless of the score, we always had a good time. It doesn't matter what heat someone is in, everybody is competing. We also had some very strong achievements at the championship meet."
As usual, CP boasted some very strong groups within the team. "We had a few powerful age groups," said Hand. "The 12-and under boys and girls, the 14-and-under boys, and the 17-and-under boys and girls. What's nice is that in the 14s and 17s, we had kids who had been swimming with the Bluefish for a long time. They know our squad and they know each other."
At the same time, Hand enjoyed the surprises that inevitably come with each season. "At the lower levels, we're meeting new families or new kids from families that have been with us for a while," added Hand.
"In the eight-and-under Charles Elliot was a pleasant surprise. Because of the age group situation, almost half of the kids go up every year and the other half becomes a year older in their own age group. So another surprise is the kids themselves finding out that they can hang in there in a new group and the other kids knowing they have a chance in an even year to be one of the big guys."
At the PASDA championship meet, several Bluefish swimmers stamped themselves as big guns. Nina Rossi dominated the 17-and-under girls' group, taking first in the 50-yard breaststroke, 50 butterfly, and 100 individual medley as she earned Most Valuable Swimmer honors in her class.
In the 12-and-under girls, Julia Anderson and Hannah Matheson were major standouts. Anderson was first in the 50 free, the 50 backstroke and the 100 IM while Matheson was first in the 50 fly, second in the 50 free, and fourth in the 100 IM.
In the 12-and-under boys, the trio of Jake Valente, Nick Zantal, and Max Wilde came up big. Valente took first in the 50 free, the 50 breast and the 100 IM while Zantal placed first in 50 back and Wilde won 50 fly. The three stars together with Michael Carter won the 200 free relay in a club and meet record time of 1:49.75.
Peter Kalibat had a big day in the 10-and-under boys as he took first in the 25 back, the 25 fly, and the 100 IM. The 6-and-under boys were paced by Finn Lillis, the winner of the 25 free and the 25 back.
In Hand's view, Matheson represents the continuity prized by the CP program. "She may be our only second generation family member currently swimming," noted Hand. "Her father [Brent] swam for CP before he went off and competed in college."
The inclusive nature of the program has helped CP grow into an institution that has attracted generations of swimmers.
"We have kids who have a lot of activities going on and don't train much at all but still love to come for the meets," explained Hand.
"This is a place where you can do that. We make something available in the community and they can use it in a way that works for them. We have rules about how you have to behave once you're here but we don't require you to come a fixed number of sessions. It's easy to be a part of this; that fits the spirit of this piece of the Rec Department."
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