New coaching changes have lead to a turn in the swim team dynamic.

A team that was seventh in the conference last year rose from the ashes and finished as a top team in the Fox Valley Conference this year.

The Huntley High School swim team officially began in 2009-2010 school year. When the swim team existed unofficially until two years ago, it had no actual coach.

“We just came together to compete for the school during conference and sectionals,” said Abby Eiermann, the varsity captain.

“There are only three of us left who started the swim team when it officially began, said Eiermann. “Channel Curtis, Natalie Rodriguez, and I.”

The lack of connection between facilities and the school may feel that the team is not truly a part of the Huntley High School community. However, the team tries hard to establish a lively atmosphere.

This atmosphere helped the team during its complications with facilities.

“We are at a huge disadvantage compared to others because the pool doesn’t have blocks,” said Curtis. “We never get a chance to work on starts.”

Curtis, a member of the successful 200 free relay, and her own personal best event, the 50-meter freestyle.

While a competitive block start system cannot be utilized, the team works hard on perfecting turns and shaving as much time as possible from that.

Curtis did just that.

To get to state, a swimmer must meet the qualifying time. Placement at sectionals does not matter.

On Oct. 10, Curtis proved she had earned it, and made it to the IHSA state girls swimming meet in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 24.36 seconds.

Curtis may be the only swimmer that made it to state, but she didn’t do it alone.

Members on the team have unified greatly becoming a big family.

The lack distance between facilities and the school does not stop the swim team from showing their Raider pride.

“Since we were always away, it wasn’t a big deal when the school team started,” said Eiermann. “Every time [we’re at a meet], we always see familiar faces.”

Swimming is unlike basketball and track; the girls of the Huntley High School swim team call each other a team but they hardly compete together.

One of the best events on the swim team is the 200 free relay. Its members are Chanel Curtis, Ali Cazel, Natalie Rodriguez, and Emily Ferguson.

It took two years to prefect this relay into the powerhouse that it is now.

A lot of that comes from the change in coaching staff.

George Keenan was brought on this year as the head coach of the swim team.

“Last year [the swim team] only worked out an hour a day,” he said.  “That’s only five hours a week. That’s not enough for swimming. They now work out 12 hours a week.”

At the start, many of the girls were opposed to the new practices; many of them had never trained this hard before.

“Many of them felt it [the practices] was too hard,” said Keenan.

The team has been able to make a difference under Keenan’s philosophy. That technique, and the improvement of it, comes first.

Confidence came once the results from the insense practices began to materialize, and the team began to win. Winning brought confidence in the coach, each other, and the overall effort. They saw that the hard practices were worth it.

“We all love each other,” said Curtis. “We cheer for each other while swimming.”

The team may lack the dynamics of a traditional team, but that doesn’t stop them from coming together and competing as a unit for the Red Raiders.