While the Oxford High School Girls Swim and Dive team has enjoyed much success this year, Head Coach Jackie Boswell is taking on a new venture coaching the Boys Swim and Dive team.
The boys began their first practice Dec. 1 in preparation for their first meet Jan. 6.
This is the first season for boys? aquatic sports at the high school, and so far there are many swimmers: Corey Bell, Jake Clark, Nate Craven, Steven DeClercq, Cody Fredericks, Stephen Godwin, Tim Haynes, Taylor Keller, Christian Lopez, Daniel Peck, Coty Perreault, Jacob Pierzinski, Andrew Raczka, Kyle Shick, Joey Tasch, Zach Venema and Jimmy Walker.
Boswell plans to focus on the basics.
‘We, the coaches, aren’t sure what to expect in terms of talent and technique,? she explained. ‘We get to teach these boys without the worry of bad habits. Some had some competitive practices but many are coming in with no or little experience.?
The first month of practice, she added, will be spent working on conditioning the boys and building up their endurance, while teaching them the four strokes and working on technique. after that, the swimmers and divers will need to work on being a team mentally and physically and will have to be ready to learn and ready to work.
With this new team competing in the Flint Metro League and at the FML meet, it presents a venture into uncharted territory. ‘Seeing as this is our first year as a team, everyone will be our toughest opponent,? Boswell said. ‘I’m excited to see what we can do.?