Wrecker swimmers strive to improve

The Staples boys swim and dive team is coming off a sub-par 2009-2010 season, but Coach Jeff Schare is optimistic about this year's squad.

"If I had to take this year's team and put them against last year's team, I think that (this year's team) would win a dual meet." Last year, the Wreckers were 5-6 in dual meets, placed seventh out of 11 teams at FCIACs, seventh out of 19 teams in Class LL.

Current sophomore Nathaniel Boley and senior captain Zach Slater, along with the 200-yard relay team were the only ones to qualify for State Open, where they finished 32nd out of 56 teams.

However, Schare believes the team will produce more State Open qualifiers this time around. "In my mind we have five swimmers who should be able to qualify individually. So if we can get all of them up to speed and qualify, that would be huge. If we can also put together a couple of relays I think we have a really good shot of at least placing in the top 15 of the state."

A top 15 finish would mean an impressive 17-place jump, one that can definitely be achieved with the talent the team has. But there is work to be done before this can happen. Senior Cory Bacon is one of the six captains the team has, and also one if its top performers.

Bacon is excited the way the team looks, but knows they must work hard to fill their potential. He said, "We are really trying to improve our practice mentality and over all team commodity. Success just doesn't show up at meets with swimming, you really have to work hard in the pool every day to see results."

Boley, who Schare cited as one of the biggest stars of his team, is also looking forward to a better season than last for the team. "We lost a few key swimmers last year to college, but just seeing the improvements current team members have made between this year and last is really encouraging."

Although the Wreckers are much improved, Schare is very cognizant of the potency of the FCIAC, and how difficult it will be to greatly improve their finish in the region. "I'd like us to go just above .500 (in dual meets), and turn one of (last years) losses into a win. One of the big pieces standing in our way is that most of the fastest swimmers in the league were juniors last year so almost all of the top performers returned to their teams."

Schare specifically cited the Greenwich Cardinals who have been a fixture at the top of the FCIAC for the past 30 years, as well as the Westhill and Stamford co-op who he described as "dynamite". He also mentioned the New Canaan Rams, who were atop Class M last year and graduated none of their swimmers. Despite the stiff competition in the FCIAC, Schare understands that you can only control yourself.

"All we can do is focus on ourselves and get through the regular season and qualify as many guys as we can for the state-tournament and move forward from there," Schare said.

Slater, who is a member of the diving team, has been working hard in the offseason to help the team reach the goals that Schare set for his squad.

"Last year I had trouble taking what I had done in practice and putting it into competition, but this year I plan on showing the judges what I have been working on."

The team will look for leadership and support from not only Slater and Bacon, but the other captains, which include Scott Feder, Michael Goodgame, Steve Siecienski, and Avery Watterworth. Staples is poised and ready to improve on last years disappointment.

Boley said, "Overall, I expect us to surprise most of the teams in our division,". The Wreckers open the season on Friday at home against Trumbull at 3:45 p.m.