Weston Swimming and Diving Team Says Goodbye to Seniors

Part of the ebb and flow of a high school team is having a complete turnover of your personnel every four years. But now that the 2011-2012 season has drawn to a close, the Weston Swimming and Diving coaching staff has to face nearly a complete turnover in the personality of the program in just one year. With 19 seniors moving on from their time with The Tide – and especially 13 graduating from the girls’ side alone – the face of the team is in for a dramatic makeover, next winter. 

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we’re graduating all our great athletes and leaders and don’t have strong underclassmen,” said Coach Claude Valle. “What I am saying is that we’re losing a very, very special group of young men and women. These athletes were incredibly positive and inclusive, and made everyone around them better people. Those are the most challenging types of kids to replace.”

The cooperative leadership style of the group was evident from day one. “The senior girls got together before we elected captains and agreed no matter what the outcome, we would all lead together as a group,” said Bianca Tocci, a two-time Division II Swimmer of the Year. Maddie Pierce, an All-America qualifier and State Record setter along with Tocci, agreed. “We did a lot of crazy, fun psyche ups this year that really brought us together.” From a Pac-Man themed day (where ghosts chased Pac Men about the school) to Neon Day, The Lady Tide’s spirit was quite evident, and they posted a 13-1 record.

In addition to the psyche ups, it just seemed that each senior had an important role in the day-to-day operation of the team. Said Jim McLaughlin, Assistant Coach, “Meiji Yue was our loudest cheerer on deck, Stephanie Bryson and Emily Von Der Heyde were great leaders for our younger swimmers, and Kate Bui, with her incredible work ethic, was a super leader by example.” Another Assistant, Katie Tucker, marveled at the emotional support given by Libby Menders. “She’s an amazing young woman who helped so many girls through tough times.”

One of the most striking characteristics of the group, according to Assistant Coach Bella Marlow, is the day-to-day positive presence of multiple hard-working, high-achieving athletes. “Laura Beaudry, Julia Meehan, Stephanie Palocz and Eliza Robson immediately come to mind as quiet soldiers who just do so many things right, every day. They’d be the top athlete in many other programs, but here they’re one on a long list of high flyers here that set the tone of the program and bring it to that next level.” 

In contrast to some of the reserved program leaders, first-year senior Emelie Reeves will never be described as quiet. “I love the ones that get a little crazy, so Emelie is my kind of athlete,” said Alex Cronin, another Tide Assistant. With bright spandex and constant dancing, Reeves brings energy to the pool deck that kept energies and morale high. One final senior girl, Sarah Connor, a four-year swimmer who missed much of the season due to injury, really missed the team this season, but continued to be an avid supporter. “We’re like a family; we have every type of personality imaginable, but we all want to do well for each other.”  

The boys’ squad had a much smaller contingent – there were just six of them – but their leadership was immense. “Right from the start, we set a goal of winning the state championship,” said Tyler Lewtan, one of the top butterfly swimmers in the state. “With that common goal, everything fell into place.” Lewtan, along with classmate Tommy Fitzgerald, posted a series of impressive swims at the State Meet that led to Weston taking the Division II State Title.  “My understanding is that there hadn’t been a Weston boys’ class to graduate since 1982 without a State Championship during their four years,” first-year Assistant Keith Miller said. “From talking to Tommy it was clear this was incredibly important to them.”

Diving Coach Luke Henesy had nothing but praise for Kian Nowrouzi, who took to the board in a pinch, sophomore season, as the team lacked a third diver in an important meet. Nowrouzi never went back to swimming. “Everything Kian achieved was the result of hard work; he put in a lot of time and became one of the better divers in the state because of it.” The team not only took the state title, but went undefeated in dual meet competition, as well. Sprinters Greag Sanda and Jonathan Heinlein played a key role – especially on relays – in that effort. “I don’t know where we would’ve been in some of those big dual meets without those two,” said Assistant Bob Burrow. “They always came through under pressure.”

One final swimmer, rookie senior Derek Shay, had a similar impact on the boys as Reeves did on the girls. “Derek is a special guy,” Valle said. “Very few guys can walk onto a team as a senior and lead, but Derek did. He and Emelie bounced off each other in a pretty amazing way and really made it fun – even the coaches.” 

It certainly sounds like the Class of 2012 will be a tough act to follow.