For most people, learning to swim is a rite of passage—a fun activity that reminds us of endless summers and underwater adventures. But for some kids, swimming didn’t stop at the end of summer. Swept up by an immense passion for the activity, these kids made it their sport of choice and a source of motivation.
Some might be so bold as to argue that swimming isn’t a sport, but rather more of a recreational activity. But competitive swimming isn’t your typical slosh through the pool. Swimmers work tirelessly to become faster in the water, perfecting strokes and pushing their bodies to exhausting limits.
For the local swim team at Orcutt Academy High School, pride in the sport has been a driving force behind the swimmers’ success this season. The girls’ team is holding strong at 5-1. They came up with big wins earlier in the month, drowning Nipomo 129-43 and edging out Paso Robles 97-89. The boys’ swim team is holding steady at 3-3.
Head coach Deanna Ayers said because Orcutt Academy (Division 4) is not in a league, the team will swim against anyone who will have them—including Division 1 teams.
“We have been integrating into the local community a lot more,” Ayers said. “Next year, we will join the Los Padres League.”
And it’s looking like they will be bringing some stiff competition. Ayers said the girls came in second at CIF last year, and the boys placed seventh.
“My goals this season are for the girls to take first, and for the boys to place in the top five,” she said.
Coach Ayers has a strong background in swimming as a former high school swimmer, synchronized swimmer, and a swim club coach for 11 years. After this much time with the sport, her philosophy is simple.
“I want kids to learn to swim correctly and develop a lifelong love of swimming,” she said.
The team practices at Paul Nelson Aquatics Center, and training usually includes an hour to an hour and a half of both swimming and dry-land training, Monday through Friday. They also have early morning Saturday practices—and let’s not forget the 12 swim meets every season.
With that in mind, Emily Ayers—the team’s swim captain and coach Ayers’ daughter—said high school swimming requires a lot of work for one season. The junior said if they practice once a day, they swim a total of 8,000 yards. But if they practice twice a day, they swim a total of 12,000 yards or more.
“It’s different because most sports are seasonal, [but] we have two seasons back to back, year-round,” she said. “At most, we get three weeks off, so you really have to love swimming.”
Consistent practice is also a huge component of being a successful swimmer. Coach Ayers said she has a strict attendance policy for that reason.
“If they miss one day of practice, they lose a whole week’s worth of work, and their technique will suffer,” she said, adding that a majority of swimming is technique and a strong mentality.
The younger Ayers competes in the 200- and 500-meter freestyle, the 400-meter freestyle relay, and the 200-meter medley. She said each swimmer is allowed to compete in two relays and two individual events. The junior has been swimming since she was 5 years old.
“It started out as exercise, and then I just started loving it more and more,” she said.
Josh Dasmann, who is also a junior and team captain, started swimming when he was 11 years old.
“I’ve been swimming my whole life; I am always in the pool,” he said.
Both Dasmann and Ayers have the look of swimmers—the chlorine bleached hair and sun-kissed skin, not to mention the drastic tan-lines that plague every water-sport athlete. Their love of the sport is evident in the way they talk about it.
“I like it because it gives me something to do. I wouldn’t know what to do in life if I didn’t have it,” Dasmann said.
Ayers echoed his thoughts, adding, “I like swimming because I find racing fun; to be able to get up there and throw down against someone is thrilling.”
Both athletes said it takes a certain kind of person to compete in swimming. Ayers said it takes someone who is mentally tough and who can train past the exhaustion.
“You have to be very dedicated,” Dasmann added. “You have to work toward where you want to be.”
Being behind the block before a race is a nerve-wracking and adrenaline-filled experience for both swimmers.
“I am zoned out behind the block. I just try not to over-think because if you do, you mess up technique,” Ayers said.
Dasmann said he just clears his head and focuses on his own lane: “I just jump off the blocks and go for it. I try to go up there with confidence.”
Both Ayers and Dasmann said their goals coming into this season revolved around improving their standing at CIF as well as improving their own times to help the team.
Coach Ayers said the success this season can be attributed to an increase in depth and strength each year, thus building on what they accomplished in previous seasons.
“Everyone on our team but four people have a really strong history in swimming,” the younger Ayers said. “It really encourages the new swimmers to work hard and train as hard as they can because they are surrounded by people with a background in swimming.”
Dasmann said the boys’ team has numerous former club swimmers, as well as some basketball and football players who bring speed and strength. So far, the toughest competition for OAHS has come from Cabrillo for the girls and Nipomo for the guys. Coach Ayers said the team wrapped up the first half of its season last week; the back half of its season will be much tougher.
“We will swim against three Division 1 schools, including San Luis and Righetti [high schools]. They are bigger than us and really fast,” Ayers said.
Facing down their last meets, the swimmers said it is now a matter of pride to keep their momentum going. But both juniors are confident in this year’s Spartan swim squad. Despite swimming being perceived as an individual sport, OAHS works to establish a team environment—something that will help keep the wins rolling, the captains said.
The younger Ayers said keeping the team aspect in tact with swimming means remembering that you’re scoring points for your team.
“We work well individually and as a whole,” Dasmann added. “You will never see us at a meet where a lane isn’t being cheered for.” m
Staff Writer Kristina Sewell loved swim lessons as a kid. Contact her at ksewell@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 3-10, 2014.
