Charleston girls’ swimming coach Todd Keating is proud of his team’s performance in the 2008 season.
The girls finished 12th of 18 in the IHSA sectionals on Nov. 10, left treading water as Champaign Central took first.
In the 200-yard medley, the Lady Trojans finished 9th with a time of 2:13.71. In the 200-yard relay, the team finished at 1:59.29. Sophomore Savannah Esarey led Charleston in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:17.31, leading senior Kerri Brachear, who finished at 2:25.43.
However, Keating doesn’t blame the girls’ performance for their low placement. Rather, Keating believes the team’s small size is the key behind their performance.
“Teams who win are large because their swimmers are better rested,” Keating said. “With other teams, individuals only swim one event.”
Competing against teams with rosters of about 14 members, Keating said, is hard for a team of six to keep up with.
Regardless, Keating said he is proud of the team’s performance, citing sectionals as “a personal best.”
“This year we had a well-balanced team,” Keating said. “Most of the time, we get a lot of freestyle and not enough strokes.”
With the girls’ season over, Charleston boys will dive in led by coach Courtney Kimbro.
In her second year of coaching the Trojans, Kimbro notices an interaction between swimmers that draws them together.
“We really have a good team connection,” Kimbro said. “We really seem to get along really well.”
Though the season doesn’t begin until Dec. 16 at Normal West with Lincoln, Kimbro is already looking forward to its beginning.
The Trojans had nine swimmers last season. This year, though the roster isn’t officially set, Kimbro hopes for a good turnout: Fourteen students showed up at the team’s rule meeting earlier this year.
More than anything, Kimbro is proud of her team.
“My advanced swimmers really did a nice job at sectionals and worked really hard throughout the season,” Kimbro said in regards to the 2007-08 season. “Same for my beginner swimmers – an incredible job, as far as how they did, the improvement that they had.”
Kimbro looks back fondly on last season, but still looks ahead to the 2008-09 schedule.
The team has only one home meet this season at Eastern Illinois’ Ray Padovan Pool.
The Trojans’ dependence on Eastern for a venue can be challenging at times, Kimbro said.
“The only problem with not having your own pool is that you really have to work around Eastern’s schedule,” Kimbro said. “It’s amazing, all the different things going on with Eastern’s pool.”
Kimbro cited practice time — 8 to 10 p.m. — as the team’s only weakness; within the team itself, she said there is no visible weakness.
Still, Kimbro and the Trojans are grateful for the opportunities given to them.
“It’s really wonderful that we have a swim program, so we are happy with whatever time we are allotted at Eastern and very happy that they are accepting and willing to give us time,” Kimbro said.
The support of fans is also something the Trojans are grateful for.
Kimbro said the meets are “more or less a family atmosphere.”
“The parents are wonderful,” Kimbro said. “I have my own family, and my own family considers the swim team and the boys and their families a part of our family. That would be one more benefit or strength of our program.”
