Despite a new conference of teams with extremely tough competition, the boys swim team did not let that stop them from having an outstanding season and accomplishing many great things.
The boys swim team began the season at the end of November, and the season ended with the conference meet at Zeeland Highschool on March 1st for those who did not get to state. For state qualifiers, the season ended with the state on meet at Oakland University on March 15th. They practiced daily for 2.5 hours every afternoon, and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, they did strength conditioning in the weight room. The boys swim team had many wins this season, including winning 1st at the Dewitt Invite and placing 3rd overall at the conference and 8th overall at State.
Coach Rob Damuth is very proud of the boys on the swim team and how much they have accomplished this season.
“A couple of goals we got is a large team going to the state meet,” said Damuth. “[Also] beating East Grand Rapids at the conference meet was a good accomplishment, but we still have more work.”
Damuth looked forward to state, and he shared some goals that the boys state team has come up with for themselves.
“The boys have set a goal to try for a trophy that means being in the top four,” said Damuth. “Of course, we would like to have six to eight guys all-state, but we will see how that goes.
Ben Duffy, Liam Sneller, Beau Holmes, Ethan Chalmers,
Alex Boynton, Griffin Damuth, Ayden Stanciel, and Lincoln Chalmers
pose for a picture in front of the Wildcat Swim & Dive banner
before heading out to Oakland University for the state meet.
They had many victories and placed multiple times at the
State meet. Photo courtesy of NV Wildcats
Junior swimmer Rhys Holmes looked forward to seeing his teammates at practice and he is eagerly anticipating doing the same next season.
“[My favorite thing is] being with my friends every day,” said Holmes. “It is so fun being on the team with all of them, it’s like we are all family because we are spending so much time every week together.”
Sophomore swimmer Jonah Damstra has been swimming for ten years, and he has achieved many goals and dreams this past season.
“[Some of my targets were] to break twenty-six seconds in my 50-yard freestyle and break fifty-nine seconds in my 100 freestyle,” said Damstra. “I accomplished both.”
Damuth’s favorite part of the season is traditionally the state meet, but he also really loves seeing growth and goals throughout the season and hard work paying off in the end.
“The state meet is always my favorite, but honestly, seeing kids taper and swim well at the conference meet and or the state meet is really what I absolutely love,” Damuth said. “That is always what we work so hard for all year long, so that is probably the best part for sure.”
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