MORGANTOWN — The University High swim team was represented by four swimmers on the girls’ side, while the boys sent five swimmers to states. Head coach Nicolle Davis said she is very proud of her team for their efforts this year.
“I am very proud of my team and what they accomplished this season,” Davis told The Dominion Post prior to the meet. “It was a rough one, as we did not have an assistant coach. However, my team was able to rise to the challenge and come to practice every day and work hard.”
It’s that exact work that she sees paying off when it matters most.
“I expected all of my kids that made states, to actually make it.”
On the girls’ side for the Hawks, three swimmers qualified for individual events — junior Becka Chmiel in the 200-yard and 500 freestyle, and sophomores Haley Kramer and Emily Stanton in the 100 breaststroke. Those three were joined by sophomore Maddie McCoy to make up the relay team for the 400m freestyle, as well. None of the UHS swimmers would qualify for finals or consolations during Thursday’s preliminary round at the Mylan Park Aquatic Center; however, with a young team and lack of an assistant coach, Davis said her girls have made her proud by even qualifying for states.
For Chmiel specifically, who qualified for states by posting a time only one second off of her personal best at regionals, credits her teammates and her “lane” for helping push her to be better.
“At the beginning of the year, especially with my 500, my time wasn’t as good as past years,” she admitted. “But later on, during regionals, specifically, I was able to push myself to a good time. My lane always pushes each other to be the best and we help keep each other up when someone is having a rough day or something.”
In practice, a “lane” is based on skill level, according to Davis. It allows her to keep her swimmers in groups with their teammates who are closer in skill to them, in turn allowing them to push each other to better times.
The girls’ finals are set to begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Mylan Park.
On the boys side for UHS, senior Frankie McCutchan qualified for the title races in the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle. Boys’ finals are set to begin at 4:45pm Friday at Mylan Aquatic Center.
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