This year, DePaul Prep Athletics has added a brand new team to its roster: girls’ swimming. With sixteen swimmers from all grade levels, the team is composed of a Varsity and Junior Varsity Team. 

Ms. Alyse Adolf, and English teacher at DePaul Prep, became Head Coach after responding to a Schoology post about the team from Mr. Pat Mahoney, the Athletic Director at DePaul Prep.  

Adolf has around ten years of swimming experience, including competitive swimming and coaching individuals at DePaul University. She felt that coaching this team would be the perfect position for her, saying that she, “[loves] teaching, but coaching is a different aspect of being with the students… [she’s] always wanted to coach.” On top of that, she displays a genuine love for the sport, and believes that, “once you’re in [swimming], you’re in it for life.”  

Assisting Coach Adolf is Ms. Britt Parker, a French teacher at DePaul Prep with over ten years of swimming experience. Once Parker learned of the team, she was eager to contribute; she has a wealth of knowledge from competitive swimming as well as water polo, and was ready to ‘dive’ back into the sport. 

Adolf and Parker had chatted in the past about their backgrounds in swimming, and agreed that coaching together would be fun, if the opportunity presented itself.

The team itself was started after several students voiced their desire for the team. DePaul Prep Athletics decided that this would be a worthwhile addition to the school.

Junior Emma Buol, a member of the Junior Varsity team, joined the team to be part of a fall sport, and because she has always liked swimming recreationally. 

Her favorite part of the team is having the opportunity to, “[get] better at swimming,” while getting to hang out with her friends, who are also on the team. She said that, “it was definitely hard to get used to swimming so much, but it’s been fun!”

Sophomore Harper Jordan, “decided to join the team because [she] swam competitively in middle school and was excited to do it with [her]  friends; [she’s] been able to improve so much and [is] so grateful for [her] teammates and coaches.” Her favorite event is the 100 yard freestyle, in which she has secured personal bests on more than one occasion. 

While the team doesn’t have their own pool, swimmers practice at Saint Patrick’s High School, making the most of their pool time. 

To create the drills for practices, Coach Adolf considers what the swimmers need to work on; recently, this has been endurance and technique in preparation for upcoming meets. 

As of September 19th, the team has participated in two dual meets: the first against Resurrection College Prep, and the second against the Latin School of Chicago. 

In DePaul’s face-off versus Resurrection, senior Lara Kabance finished first in her Varsity 100 yard backstroke, while sophomore Julia Czajko placed first in the Varsity 100 yard breaststroke. 

At the following meet against Latin, sophomore Annie Carbonara took first in the Varsity 100 yard breaststroke, with Czajko only one second behind. On top of that, many swimmers have dropped their times significantly over the course of the season. 

Both coaches are proud of the team’s accomplishments, Adolf saying that, “it’s been great; the girls are awesome, and I wouldn’t want to go through this crazy thing without Ms. Parker and the girls.” 

Adolf and Parker agree that starting the team has been a great experience. Parker knew that if she, “passed up the opportunity, [she] would regret it, because [she] loves the sport so much,” and has always wanted to coach it. 

There is, “no precedent,” yet, says Adolf, which is both daunting and exciting. 

Many of the swimmers agree that both of the coaches are doing a great job thus far. They have worked, successfully, to create an environment where the swimmers feel challenged and pushed, while also being encouraged and supported. Parker explained that her favorite part of the team is the, “camaraderie of practice, of meets, of the team,” and how supportive everyone is of each other. 

The DePaul Prep ‘Swimmin’ Women’ are looking to continue their growth both in their skills, and as a team.