Locust Valley Middle School’s Matthew McCloy competed in the butterfly at the school’s first meet
Locust Valley Central School District
The Locust Valley boys’ swim team set program records at its first-ever swim meet this season. The team includes students from the Locust Valley middle and high schools, Glen Cove High School and Carle Place High School.
The team was created this year, and it is coached by Alexandra Senglaub, Locust Valley Middle School’s sixth-grade teacher.
The team’s first-ever swim meet was on Dec. 6, and students
“It was really exciting,” Senglaub said. “You could tell that they were just feeding off of the energy that was there in the pool that night.”
The boys’ swim team has been in discussion for the past few seasons, Senglaub said.
The girls’ swim team program began a few years ago, she said. The boys’ team is mirrored off of the girls’ team, which also combines with the Glen Cove and Carle Place high schools.
Senglaub said a high school teacher began an intramural program for boys to see if students were interested in participating.
“That was a really nice way see where our numbers were, how many people were interested,” she said.
Senglaub said she began conducting interest meetings at all high schools in October after seeing how successful the intramural team was.
Senglaub swam competitively for 13 years and was recruited to swim for SUNY New Paltz, she said. Coaching a brand-new team has allowed her to reflect on the sport from a new perspective.
“Swimming is one of the most individual sports that you could ever do,” Senglaub said. “Yes, you’re definitely racing against the person next to you, but at the same time, there’s the aspect of you’re trying to beat you’re own previous time as well.”
Going into their first meet, Senglaub said she told the boys’ team to focus on their own race and not worry about the other swimmers competing.
“I would say that the boys really stepped up to that mindset,” she said.
At the first meet against Hewlett High School, the Locust Valley team set program records.
“Since this is our first season for the program, any single time that a swimmer swims the fastest time so far for that event, they’re setting a program record,” Senglaub said.
She said this has been a motivating factor for the students on the team during practices and meets. It has fostered friendly competition within the team, Senglaub said.
On Dec. 6 Sophomore Arda Agir secured four program records in the 200-individual medley, 50-freestyle, 100-butterfly and 100-freestyle.
Aidan Habermehl, Miguel Guerra C.J. McKenzie andNicholas Cueva set the pace with a 2:38:91 time in the 200-meter medley relay. Senior Sean Lyons sped through the 100-backstroke in 1:23:35.
The team’s next meet will be on Jan. 6.
Senglaub said the team’s first season has taught her how to motivate a group of students to perform at a high level while ensuring they’re still excited about the sport.
“It’s about getting these current swimmers who are here excited about what they’re doing, whether it’s a best time or they’re close to a personal best, or even if they don’t swim their best,” she said.