Tiger Team Making a Splash

December 11, 2009 • written by Emily Carrell

The swimming Tigers this year have broken records in bonding as a team.

“Everyday we start stretching at 5:45(a.m.) so that we can hit the water night at 6:00 then we practice for two hours until 8:00. Each practice consists of about 7,000 yards of cardio and sprints intermixed fairly evenly,” junior Aaron Tipton said.

Tipton says their countless hours spent at the pool has led to bonds between the team members.

“Its like a big family. Everyone respects each other and builds each other up. At meets we start out with a team stretch and the captains try to say some words of encouragement to get the team ready to race and during the meet there are always different teammates on the side of the pool and at the ends of the lanes cheering for the team,” Tipton said.

Ian Betts, Melanie McClure, and Aaron Tipton are this year’s team captains.

“We just have to lead stretches and make sure we cheer for each other, but it’s not really too much extra, Betts said.

Sophomore Lauren Benefit says that the team has developed their close bonds partially due to coach Danny Huffman.

“He’s a really nice and funny guy, but he’s harsh when he needs to be, like most coaches. If you aren’t giving a good effort in practice or a meet,” sophomore Lauren Bennett said.

Many of the team members are also involved in a club swim team lead by Cody Huckabay.

“They both swam in college and as kids too. So they both have a lot of experience,” Betts said.

Betts also said that the team members’ time spent practicing and the coaches’ influence has led to this year’s success.

“They (the meets) are really fun because everyone constantly has at least one teammate at the end of their lane cheering for them. And a lot of the swimmers get best times at the high school meets because they know their team is depending on them to place well and earn points,” Bennett said.

So far the team was had duel meets against schools, including Southlake, Tyler Lee, Hebron, Grapevine, Colleyville, Jesuit, Nolan Catholic, and several Arlington and Plano schools. The girls have won all the these meets and the boys have only lost the meets versus Hebron and Tyler Lee.

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