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Swimming Foursome Gain Skills and Confidence

2/6/2019

With no Cub swim team, Collegiate School 7th Graders Thomas Harrison, Brandon Thomason, Jackson Hope and Catherine Owen joined the junior varsity swim team — with no previous experience.

Of course, the four had swum in the ocean and in a pool, but they had never competed.

“That is very rare for the swim team,” said Collegiate head swimming coach Mike Peters.

Still, they enthusiastically joined the Collegiate team, which included athletes who have swum year-round since they were 6 or 7 years old.

During practices, the 7th Graders learned new strokes, flip turns and racing starts. By the end of the season, they had not only mastered those skills, they were finishing 1- to 2-mile swim workouts, sometimes leading the lane.

At the Middle School Championships, all four swam at least one best time, with each swimmer dropping more than 6 seconds from the beginning of the season in a race that only lasts a little over a half-minute.

Mr. Peters said the fearsome foursome made their coaches and their School proud.

“They demonstrated a love of learning that pushed them to do things they wouldn't have thought possible at the beginning of the year,” he said.

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