The very first season of the Alleghany Cougar Swim and Dive teams has concluded following their trip to regionals on Tuesday, February 6, in which 11 swimmers qualified. With the swimming season reaching its natural end, it’s surely a time filled with mixed emotions, particularly for seniors whose first season as an Alleghany Cougar was also their last.
Senior athletes are left with a bittersweet taste in their mouths; their sweet victories mixed with salty tears shed as they say goodbye to their teammates, their coach, and soon, their friends, as graduation draws near. The conclusion of the swimming season not only marks the end of a journey filled with hard work, dedication, and team spirit, but it marks the end of a brief era in their lives.
For all swimmers, this is a time of reflection on their personal growth and the friendships made throughout the season. It’s a time to look back on every obstacle that appeared too difficult to overcome, and yet they overcame them. It’s also a time to appreciate the love and support each swimmer received from their teammates as they bid them farewell.
For Coach Erin Nicely —who coached both the boys and girls Swim and Dive teams— it’s a time to look back on her coaching strategy, what improvements can be made for next year, and how pleased she is with both teams’ accomplishments. “I am very proud of our team this season,” Nicely said following the swim teams’ final meet on Tuesday, February 6. “We had a very young team, several who have never swam competitively, so to have had 11 swimmers qualify for regionals I believe shows how much this team has learned and how hard they have worked this season. Today they went out with the odds against them in a highly competitive region 3 meet and gave their best and I couldn’t have asked for anything else. It’s been a pleasure coaching them this season and I look forward to next season.”
Read on for full results provided by Head Coach Erin Nicely.
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