Sports
Fall Sport Preview: Girls Swimming and Diving Team Looks to Improve Every Meet
First home swim meet is today.
When Lisa Cooney became the head coach of girls swimming and diving team at Rocky Hill 13 years ago, she took control of a team with only 17 members and that lacked both popularity and history. But, in the years since, the terriers have established a reputation for success in the pool.
Last season was one of the team’s best ever on an individual level. Eight swimmers qualified for the Class S open in individual events, an impressive total for any school, but especially one where Cooney admits to having many of her swimmers originally joining Rocky Hill as novices.
However, even as the head coach states an optimal goal is to have 10 or more swimmers qualify for the class championships in individual events this season she says the team’s ultimate goal is to just have every swimmer improve.
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“We have a great team dynamic,” Cooney said. “We don’t need to shoot for a certain amount of wins. We just expect everyone to work hard and get better as the season goes on.”
The terriers already have a few swimmers who have qualified for the class open in individual events. Junior Gabby Brozowski has qualifying times in the 100-yard backstroke and freestyle, while sophomore Dominique D’Costa qualified in the 50 free and 100 fly. Finally, Marissa Calania qualified for the second straight year in the 100 breaststroke.
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Rocky Hill will be up against stiff competition in the CCC East, especially as the only Class S school in the division. The team already lost its first meet of the season on Tuesday to East Hartford 101-83, a defeat that Cooney branded a learning experience. The head coach pointed to matchups against Fermi and Hartford Public later in the season as ones that would be particularly exciting.
Though Cooney knows that her team is not the best in the CCC at this time, she is glad that the terriers have consistently improved over the years and believes 2011 girls swimming and diving will be strong.
“I’m proud the team’s become more popular over time and people are paying attention. We have a good team with a lot of all-around talent this year.”
Rocky Hill has its first home swim meet of the year on Friday when it faces off against East Catholic at 3:45.
