This winter marks the start of another season for boys varsity swimming, and more excitement to come for fans, families and swimmers. Their first meet will be on December 14 at 9 a.m., at home.
The tension is building from the high expectations set by the accomplishments the swimmers made last year.
Last season, nine swimmers and one diver made their way to state. They beat a school record with a total 1:28.24 sec in the 200-yard freestyle relay, and then another with a cumulative of 3:14.35 sec in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Returning this year will be all-state senior swimmers Jack Damstra, Prade Horling and Drew Kamp, as well as all-state senior diver Mitchell Falkins.
According to coach Rob Damuth, the swim program has come a long way since he started coaching at Northview in 1997. For him, the experience has proved unforgettable, especially when it comes to his swimmers.
“They have more inside them than they believe,” said Damuth. “And that’s just what I see in kids coming up: their lack of belief in themselves… I think that’s part of our job as a coaching staff, is to get them to realize their potential.”
He continues to be impacted as he observes the growth of each swimmer and how they grow up and apply what they learn from the pool to the real world. He enjoys seeing them become nurses, doctors, teachers, and even accountants as they mature from their experiences as swimmers and teammates.
“The kids that leave the program are much more driven, and they’re able to goal set,” Damuth said. “You watch [their self-esteem] rise as they go through their career.”
