Success sometimes leads to bigger and better challenges.
Oxford’s boys swim and dive team will face greater challenges this season after the team moves to a higher division within the Oakland Activities Association and must face better teams. The Wildcats will swim in the White Division this year after they were co-champions last season in the Blue Division.
Coach Jackie Rank knows the opportunity to swim against better teams is the way the boys can get better.
‘We are in a more difficult division and we can compete because we have some very good athletes but I’m concerned about the depth of our team. We don’t have a feeder program here yet like some other schools,? Rank said.
Nonetheless, Rank believes her group is strong and needs to believe in themselves and their abilities. ‘We certainly have guys that can compete. We need to believe in ourselves and push to get better.?
One of the leaders on the team is senior Jarred Butler, who swam at the state meet last season and will compete in four freestyle events this season. He along with senior Corey Jones are captains and leaders of the squad.
Erick Vandecar is a junior who will swim in individual medley events and the 100 meter butterfly. Rank said Vandecar believes he can perform well enough to also compete in state competition. Vandecar holds the school record in the 200 meter individual medley.
Cheyne Stresky is a sophomore who will swim in the longer distance freestyle events.
Rank said freshman newcomer Armando Vega is just the swimmer she hopes to find to improve the team and add depth.
In his first meet, he swam in the 100 meter butterfly and the 100 meter breaststroke and immediately became the second fastest Wildcat swimmer in the 100 meter butterfly.
‘He’s a good all-round swimmer and we hope he can show something this season,? Rank said.
Another freshman, Sean Terry, has stepped up and has shown some good things in the first meet, Rank said.
Blake Hibdon, a junior, is the team’s backstroke specialist and Rank said he has hopes to make the state meet.
Lewis Marshall, also a junior, finished very strong last season and Rank expects him to have a very good season this year. He is one of the team’s captains.
The team has two very good divers in Marco Campagiorni and Jared Tasch.
‘Marco has a gymnastic background and it helps in his dives,? Rank said. He is a junior and Tasch is a sophomore.
‘It is very nice to know we will have Marco for two more years and Jared for three years. They both can be very good.?