On September 22nd, the Steinbrenner swim team attended the Western Conference meet at Bobby Hicks Park and placed second due to the lack of a dive team. Tryouts for the team took place on August 2nd, concluding the third year of tryouts that had no diver participants. Through this difficult obstacle, the team still managed to thrive in these meets and model our school’s swim team.
“We have won most of our dual meets and placed high at both City Relays and Western Conference. I believe that our team will do well in the upcoming championship meets and the next two dual meets,” Sophomore swimmer Lila Ordex said.
The members and coaches have all hunted possible divers for next year’s season to ensure points are not lost in this event again.
“During the latest meet, we had to place in additional events that we were not as strong in to make up for the points we knew we would lose,” Swim and Dive team coach Amber Haimes said.
While the team is advertised as the Steinbrenner Swim and Dive team on multiple social media platforms, the dive part remains neglected. Due to the lack of a pool on the Steinbrenner campus, the team practices at the nearby Cheval Athletic Club which has limited facilities.
“We don’t have a place for divers to train that I’m aware of nor a designated dive coach and at the last few season tryouts, no one has registered as a diver,” Ordex shared.
Coach Haimes has shared that she is talking with a few students about becoming divers for next season, but the individuals have not yet verified that they have committed to the positions.
“It’s too late for us to add divers this year but next season, we are hopeful to participate in almost every event present at the meets,” Haimes included.
Haimes is not yet sure how the future divers will practice as the Cheval pool does not have a board. Since it’s not a school property, a diving board cannot be requested leaving the coaches to wonder how to practice this event.
“I think we would have more divers on the team if there was a board at our practice pool to encourage the team,” Ordex said, “I for one would probably try it out just for fun.”
More students may think like Ordex if the team was promoted more in school over the announcements and provided a diving board and specialized coach.
Liv Pages // Opinion Editor