With upwards of 50 girls and four lanes to practice in, the girls swim team adds space to its list of challenges.
“Because there are a large number of swimmers, we do have some challenges when it comes to the number of people per lane. On average there can be five to 10 swimmers in each lane,” sophomore Elizabeth Leath said. “The more people per lane, the harder it is to swim.”
Along with the tremendous number of swimmers, the girls are adjusting to the philosophy of first-year varsity coach, Mr. Kevin Fober.
Senior Ally Neumann said that Fober’s practices are drastically different than what the team is used to.
“In practice, we don’t do a lot of drill or kicking. His intervals are not hard so none of his practices are challenging,” Neumann said. “Basically we are going through the motions and not getting anything out of it.”
After consulting Fober on the matter multiple times, Neumann said that the changes were minimal and didn’t last for more than a few days before Fober turned back to his original workouts.
Senior Rebecca Altman reminds the swimmers that despite this change, their effort must not cease.
“Practices are not as difficult as they were but we still have to work hard,” Altman said. “Coach Fober is a lot different in his philosophy and in what he thinks is most important to work on in practice, but a lot of people are still improving.”
Not only do the swimmers notice a change in practice style but in personality as well.
“He is laid back, which makes the team a lot more easy going,” Altman said. “He is more reserved than Mabie so he isn’t loud and in your face, but still has a presence.”
Neumann misses the energy that Coach Kevin Mabie leaves behind.
“It is very different because Mabie was always energetic and outgoing, and Fober is not that at all,” Neumann added. “He is timid.”
Sophomores Taylor Burlis and Morgan Edwards are thankful for Fober’s effort.
“While no one could be as crazy and goofy as Mr. Mabie, I think that Coach Fober is doing an awesome job,” Burlis said. “He is helping us a lot by stepping in. He has personalized some of the workouts based on our cruise interval.”
Burlis describes a cruise interval as a test in which the girls swim six 100-yard laps as fast as possible while keeping a constant pace.
According to Burlis, Fober then takes the average pace and incorporates it into each swimmer’s daily workout.
“He is always willing to stay late after practice and help me perfect my strokes,” Edwards said. “My times have really improved, and I think that it is because of Fober.”
With an eye on the state meet, Neumann currently is joined only by junior Courtney Nall. Neumann has a qualified in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley, while Nall met the qualifying time in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle.
As of press time, four out of the six returning state qualifiers have yet to guarantee their spot at state competition later this season.
“I think it is a direct result of his coaching because none of us are challenged,” Neumann said.
Altman also noted the lack of state qualifiers at this point in the swim season, especially the girls who qualified last year.
“All of them have qualified through freshman year for state, so this is kind of weird,” Altman said.
Coach Fober did not return contact with the Corral.
