Spring Valley’s Swim and Dive team is swimming into their season, and already have swimmers qualified for regionals.
They’ve already had their first official meet on March 16th against the Palo Verde Panthers. Although that they did not win, they still managed to have less disqualifications and more swimmers qualifying for regionals.
“My beginner’s have so much potential, and they have progressed since our first practice meet. I’m hoping most of them make it to regionals” said Coach Jean Reese.
Most of Reese’s coaching seasons have been successful at Spring Valley, when her men’s swimmers beat the Panthers, and all of them qualified for regionals.
New swimmer, sophomore Alia Armamento already has her experience through her older brother, Junior Johnathan DeGuzman.
“I was scared as a new swimmer, but thank goodness there was a practice meet before we were actually able to compete,” said Armamento
There are a few returning swimmers willing to help the newer people, sophomores Bella Griffith and Brittany Thomas. Due to Thomas’s zone variance, and Griffith sustained back injury, they are unable to compete for the 2013 swim season.
“I was upset that I couldn’t compete for the second time, but at least Coach gave me a job to train and time the swimmers,” said Thomas.
This is her second year on the swim team not competing because of her zone variance. She was unable to renew her zone variance after she moved to a different school for the first few weeks of the school year. But when she decided to move back to Spring Valley, she had to have a new zone variance.
“It’s a bit frustrating, but I know that I will do my best in my junior and senior year.”
As for Griffith, she might have a chance to jump back into the waters when she fully recovers.
“I’m mostly known for long distance, but for now, I’m only able to do 100’s and 50’s for a short amount of time,” said Griffith.
With their trainers and determined coach, they make an unstoppable team to blow other schools out of the water! Come out and support Spring Valley’s team on Thursday, March 21st as they take on the Shadow Ridge Mustangs.
