Prep Profile: GRCHS swim team

Coach: Alicia Henderson, second season. Henderson has added Tyler Adams as an assistant coach this season. He swam at Lafayette and also for the Lexington Dolphins. “He brings a great deal of experience both as a coach and swimmer to the team,” Henderson said. Adams is a recent graduate of Transylvania University and was a member of the school’s swim team as a freshman and sophomore.
Top returnees: Jansen Browning, Caroline Browning, Ethan Weckwert, Richard Roche, Sam Ritter, Drew Coleman and Jordan Jacobsen.
Outlook: Henderson’s roster features 11 new swimmers, most from the middle school level. “We have had more kids join the team at the middle school level which we are happy to see,” Henderson said. “We have included dryland workouts and weights this year in addition to the swim practices. Last year, we focused on skill and technique development for most of the year. This year we would like to add to that and increase the team’s overall fitness level and stamina in the pool. To do this we will be swimming more yardage and doing weekly dryland and weight training.”
Team strength: Henderson likes her team’s “positive attitude and eagerness to learn.” She added that her squad has strong seniors, along with dedicated freshman and sophomores.
Team weakness: Lack of swimming and competition experience. “We have a lot of work ahead of us teaching all the new swimmers the basics,” she said. “However, all the swimmers have responded well to the challenges ahead of them. Our expectations this year include placing both teams in the top 16 in relays at regionals and having Richard (Roche) qualify for the state meet. We also expect each swimmer to swim personal best times in each event they swim. I think our boys team could win the majority of our scheduled meets as well.”
 Keys to the season: “The key to success is preparation,” Henderson said. “I like the quote, ‘everyone has the desire to win, but only champions have the desire to prepare.’ We need to continue to prepare during the offseason in order to establish excellence. I have started a club USA swimming team at College Park for high school kids to swim and to get younger kids  interested in swimming. Learning the biomechanics of swimming at a younger age sets the stage for success in swimming. The increased interest and commitment to swimming in elementary and middle school-aged students will help to build a stronger high school program in years to come.”
Schedule:
December
13 — at Model.
January
14 — Sprint Invite at College Park. 28 — Madison Southern

Swimmers open seaosn with loss to Montgomery County

The George Rogers Clark swim team opened the season with a meet against rival Montgomery County Monday at the Winchester-Clark County Health and Wellness Center. Clark lost to the Indians 887-709. Results were as follows:
Boys final team scores: Montgomery 427, Clark 414
Girls final team scores: Montgomery 460, Clark 295
Top Clark finishers:
— Richard Roche, first, 100 back and 100 fly.
— Jansen Browning, third, 50 free, second 100 breast.
— Ethan Weckwert: third, 200 free.
— Drew Coleman, second, 200 free and 100 freestyle.
— Mackenzie Crowl: second, 200 IM
— Caroline Browning, third, 50 free
— Bryce Denham, third, 100 back
— Boys 400 free relay (Roche, Sam Ritter, Ethan Weckwert and Jansen Browning), first; 200 medley relay (Roche, Ritter, Weckwert and Jansen Browning), second place. Third, Denham, Colby Birkes, Cody Cox and Marcus Wiseman.
— Girls 200 medley and free relay (Caroline Browning, Crowl, Drew Coleman and Jordan Jacobson), third place.