Carroll Swim Team Anticipates a Great Season
By: Lauren McCall
Carroll High School Junior
On Sunday, August 22, the day before school started, Carroll High School’s halls were silent and empty, cringing as it readied for the next day’s chaos. The cafeteria however, was already packed full of students on the hot Sunday night. Why you ask? The Carroll High School Swim and Dive Team met to hand in required school forms, eat BBQ, unite with friends and hear announcements from the coaches to kick off the 2010-2011 season. The kick off was a tremendous success as the cheerful lunch hall was filled with swimmers and parents busily bustling around the cafeteria in search of a seat next to teammates, signing athletic forms and purchasing new season’s t-shirts.
Swim Dads cooked BBQ out in the 100+ degree weather to provide for the entire cafeteria filled with a room of hungry swimmers. Swim/Dive Moms helped out managing the dads and with serving the food.
Swimmers and Divers reunited after the summer and it was a great time to hang out with old friends as well as new. Freshmen coming in this year had a chance to talk with returning swimmers from past years at Southlake Carroll. One could see upperclassmen mentoring the freshman in what it means to be a Carroll swimmer.
As the swimmers and their parents settled down to dinner in the cafeteria, Head Swim Coach Kevin Murphy, Varsity and Junior Varsity Coach Lynne Gorman, Dive Coach Carolyn Hyrochuk, and tutorial assistant coach Ronald Martinsen spoke in front of the audience as a welcoming to the upcoming season.
Coach Murphy described his own experience in swimming. He started swimming at the age of seven, went on to swim in high school as well as college, and becoming involved in coaching at the age of 21. Murphy went on to tell of his discovering Carroll.
Years ago, Coach Murphy visited the Aquatic Center at Carroll Senior High School when he asked himself, “God, why don’t I get to coach in a place like this?” He went on to say that, “I didn’t even dream of coaching at Carroll.”
Murphy’s pride and admiration for the swim team is apparent through the enthusiasm of his speech.
“We (coaches) believe we’re going to make a run at the High School state championship this year,” said Murphy as the audience erupted into motivational applause.
Murphy describes Carroll almost in awe, as if being a coach at Carroll is the greatest honor.
“I’d like to coach 105 of the kids here rather than one Michael Phelps,” Murphy proudly stated.
Murphy asks that the swimmers “be guidable” in light that the coaching staff is here to serve them this year. Murphy finished the speech in stating, “This is a very special year for you and all of us.”
In truth, this year will be a special year for the Southlake Carroll Swim and Dive team for freshmen and seniors alike as they kick-off their season with high goals, devoted coaches, and motivation.
*The Carroll Swim and Dive team would like to thank all Swim Dive team parent volunteers and sponsors for helping at the “Kick-Off” event. Go Dragons!
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