Mt. Hope swim teams hoping to make a splash

By Richard W. Dionne Jr.
Posted 12/28/19

The Mt. Hope High School swim teams opened up their 2019-20 regular seasons just before the holiday recess by hosting meets against East Providence at the Pods Swimming Center in East Providence. The …

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Mt. Hope swim teams hoping to make a splash

Posted

The Mt. Hope High School swim teams opened up their 2019-20 regular seasons just before the holiday recess by hosting meets against East Providence at the Pods Swimming Center in East Providence. The boys fell 51-36 to the Townies and the girls won 50-30.

Last year the boys team finished fourth at the Divisional meet while the girls placed fifth. Swim coaches Adam Dutra and Kasey Carr aim to have their teams finish stronger at this year’s meet.

This season the teams hope to break the top three at the Division meet and have a “larger pool of state qualifiers,” said girls coach Kasey Carr.

 Girls' team is deep

The girls’ strength is their depth.

“A few years ago we would be scrambling to get at least one swimmer in every event at our dual meets,” said coach Carr. “Now all of our events are filled and we must rotate swimmers in the exhibition events, meet to meet, to ensure that everyone gets a chance to swim.”

Last year’s team MVP was sophomore (then freshman) Eva White.

White swims all year round for Kingfish swimming out of Bristol. “Eva has qualified for states in every event she has swam for us,” said coach Carr. 

White’s best events are the 100-meter fly and 100-meter back stroke.

Coach Carr was pleasantly surprised by a few swimmers who returned this season in peak condition. Senior captain Jordan Borge swims the 50 and 100 freestyle sprints and the backstroke. Junior Dana Cobery swims the 100 butterfly and freestyle. Sophomore Isabelle Correira swims the 200 individual medley and backstroke, and senior Drew Tyska who swims the 50- freestyle distance event.

“All of the girls are posting their best times in their respective events right off the bat and looking to qualify for the state meet,” said coach Carr.

“We have about eight new girls who all came in about the same level,” said coach Carr. “We have been pleasantly surprised by senior exchange student Fredrika Boman and freshman Erika Tally.”

Boys' team is young but competitive

This year’s boys team doesn’t have as much experience for the sport.

“None of the boys swimmers entered the season with much background in competitive swimming,” said coach Carr. “The boys’ strength is their love and passion for the sport. They are very dedicated and take pride in every second they cut in their times.”

Sophomores Jacob Perry (freestyle and back stroke), Ryan Patullo (freestyle and butterfly) and Luke Krawczak (freestyle and butterfly) have all begun to test new events and remain the team’s core in the relays, said coach Carr.

This year the boys have a large class of newcomers with a few standouts, according to coach Carr.

“Sophomore transfer Kaden Silva has become quite a utility swimmer for us. He is capable of swimming anything we need him to,” said coach Car.

“Freshman Gordon Kopecky has come in and immediately taken to the backstroke. He has dropped 20 seconds in our first two meets.”

As far as weaknesses, coach Carr said that both teams lack experience. “With Eva as the team’s only year-round swimmer, Adam and I must teach all four strokes to newcomers when they join the team,” coach Carr said.

For instance, Tyska came in with no competitive experience last year and qualified in the 100-meter breaststroke. This year she has already qualified again at the team’s first home meet. 

“It is truly wonderful seeing the student athletes learn the sport and in some cases, improve so drastically that they end up qualifying for states,” said coach Carr.

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