Schools

Manassas Park High Gets Swim Team

More than a hundred students showed interest in joining the high school's new swim team, which is slated to have its first season this winter. The team will use the Manassas Park Community Center pool for practice and meets.

Manassas Park High School is in the process of forming its first swim team in the school's history.

 Preparations are already underway for the team’s inaugural season, which will be during the 2011-2012 school year, said Samantha Olbes, an independent Crossroads counselor working in Manassas Park High School.

 Olbes has an extensive background in competitive swimming and will be working with Manassas Park High teacher Kim O’Brien to coach the team.

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 The school held an interest meeting for students Wednesday morning, Olbes said.

 “I was very surprised at the number that came out,” she said. “It was a full cafeteria. About 150 to 200 kids came out.  We briefly introduced the new sport and talked about equipment and fundraising.  It was an interest meeting, I wanted to create a buzz. Everybody was referring to Michael Phelps."

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 While there was a lot of interest, only about five or so hands went up when she asked who swam seriously, Olbes said.

 There were some students there that don't yet know how to swim, she added.

 Olbes said she and O’Brien will work closely with the Manassas Park Department of Parks and Recreation aquatics program to see if some swim clinics and lessons can be provided during the summer.

The community center pool will also be the venue for the high school team's practice sessions and meets.

When the students come back to school in the fall, there will be at least two more swim team interest meetings, she said. At that point, they will have the rising eighth graders with them.

 It is unlikely the school will have a junior varsity team and a varsity team because it is the first year, said.

Eight graders will swim exhibition, hone their swimming skills and gain experience by being on the varsity team, but their points will not go toward the varsity team score.

 Swimming will be a winter sport, as it will give girls another winter sport selection.  The team will comprise both male and female students, but girls will compete against girls and boys will compete against boys in the Bull Run District, she said.

 High school swimming is divided by gender and there is no cumulative scoring.

The high school is in good company, as there are some other schools in Northern Virginia who are starting swim programs this year.

 “Other schools have offered to assist because they know how hard it is to start up a brand-new program,” Olbes said.

 She also has received support from within Manassas Park High, she said.

 “I’ve got a lot of support. I’ve had teachers say, ‘Well if you need me I’m here,” Olbes said.

 Olbes, a Virginia Beach native, began swimming at age 10.

She swam year round and got a lot of joy out of the sport, Olbes said.

 “One thing I like about swimming is that this is not a sport where you can be shy.  I mean, you are in a bathing suit; you don’t wear sweats, so you get to know your team and feel comfortable,” she said. “Even though it is a swim team, it is a sport played individually.  You get to see how much joy people get out of the water.”

 Swimming is also a family sport.   Because swim meets can last several hours, families have a chance to bond, she said.

 It’s not unusual for parents to get involved and work concession or keep time, she said.

 Swimming is an avenue for achieving great things, she said.

 “It depends on how high you want to go. Wherever you want to be, swimming can take you,”  Olbes said.


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