With a solid reputation of steady improvements in the past three years, as displayed in the KingCo athletic records, the new boys swim and dive team is focusing on team building and preparing for competitions.
The KingCo athletic records show that in their 2016-2017 season, boys swim and dive won only 2 competitions and lost four of them, while in the 2017-2018 season, the team won three games and lost four. However, in their 2018-2019 season, the team won four meets and lost only three, showing the team’s constant improvement.
Going into his third year of participating in boys swim and dive, junior Jeffery Caruso reflects on his main personal goals for this season.
“I’d probably say make KingCo districts,” Caruso said.
Boys swim and dive amplify their performance in the water by building traditions out of the water. Caruso discussed how these elements of team building are implemented around the sport.
“We got OJ Wednesday, Martinelli Monday, hair bleaching, and speedos for lip dub,” Caruso said.
OJ Wednesday is a tradition where the boys drink a half gallon of orange juice to begin their school day.
Hair bleaching is a common and deep-rooted practice for the boys swim and dive team, a tradition that has been relevant for years.
Coach Corey Martin, often referred to as Coach Corey, reflects on his participation in Inglemoor boys swim and dive traditions.
“Way back in the 90’s, Inglemoor was bleaching their hair… it’s been going on for at least 20-30 years,” Corey said.
Traditions such as these have enhanced the team building effort. Team building is also strengthened when Corey has the boys show up at the pool early in the morning.
“Practice times are rough, 5:15 [a.m.] in the water,” Caruso said.
There are valid reasons for practices to start as early as they do.
“The only reason it starts so early in the morning is because it’s the only time we can get pool time,” Corey said.
While the concept of early morning practices are commonly criticized, Caruso finds solace in having early swim practices and figures out for himself how it connects back to the idea of team building.
“It’s a fun experience to share the suffering of early practice times,” Caruso said.
“Everyone gets very connected, and you make a lot of very great friends.”
