Ferrari Brown
The swim team has the formula to take Pierce College to the top of the swim league and break some old swim records at the same time.
Every weekday the women’s swim team practices in the water for two hours which equates to about two to four miles each day to enhance endurance and speed; they also meet on Saturdays.
Having their first relay on Feb. 18, the women took home first place in many of the relays the 4×50, 4×100, 4×200.
“They are the best team I’ve ever had,” said Fred Shaw, coach of the swim team.
The State Championship is the goal. Each year the top 16 swimmers in the state compete for the first place position, “I’ve always had one girl make State,” stated Shaw, but this year he expects four or five girls are going to the State Championship.
“Oh my God, I love Fred! He’s like the greatest guy ever,” said Deborah Hefter, freestyle and middle distance swimmer.
This is Hefter’s first semester at Pierce and compared to other swim teams she has been on, she feels a part of the family.
Shaw knows “how far to push you before, you like, go to the breaking point,” said Hefter.
Similarly, Alexandra “Xan” Rogers, backstroke specialist, decided to come to Pierce for many reasons but her first reason was Shaw.
“I really liked the he was coaching. I actually felt like I could get motivated,” said Rogers
Juliana Pasos, butterfly specialist, thinks part of their success is because, “We get along really well.”
“The girl’s depend on each other for support and encouragement but, swimming is an individual sport with a cumulative effort,” said Shaw. “But all encouragement starts within.”
“To get the upper hand I intimidate the competition by going to the edge of the pool and splashing water on her face and jumping around,” said Hefter.
Jessica Chen, sprinter, commented eating a lot of fruit and listening to “My Hump” by The Black Eyed Peas which gets her pumped up and in the zone before she leaves the other team stumped in a relay.
Where as, Pasos, prefers to speak words of encouragement to herself, like, “You can do it!”.
Shaw predicts that, “it will be my best women’s team that I have ever had and it will break some Pierce records.”
Hefter put it bluntly, “we’re going to kick major [butt] this year!”