While the Hazlet Swim & Tennis Club’s swim team is off to an 0-2 start, coach Helen McDonald has her team working hard to improve its times and she is hoping to build the team into a feeder program for the fledgling program at Raritan High School.
McDonald, who graduated from Raritan in June, swam the individual medley and backstroke for the two-year-old Rockets’ varsity swimming program. She noted that several competitors from the high school team are continuing to hone their skills at the Hazlet club.
Jackie Lee, Kristen McDonald, Britta Petersen, Linnea Petersen, Courtney Rosa, along with Niko Alban, Dan Barbera, Joe Pannullo and Dan Seigrist, who compete for Hazlet in the 15-18 year-old division, are all members of the Rockets as well.
“It’s great that we have so many high school swimmers here,” the coach said. “My goal is to make this a feeder program for the high school — having them here encourages the younger kids to participate.”
Coach McDonald is hoping that her contingent includes many future Rockets. Current swimmers include: 8-year-olds and under: Matthew Donlon, David Galer, Raphael Goos, Sophia Goos, McKenzie Know and Devon McHarg; 9-10: Liam Honnen, Danielle Largmann, Cassidy Tripolitis, and Kaylee Walsh; 11-12: Hayley Gruning, Daniel Knox, Bryan Lazicki, Colin McHarg, Jamie McHarg, Dana Petersen and Emily Rollman; 13-14: Salina Catani, Mario Ferrigno, Victoria Freda, Freddie McDonald, Dan Sapienza and Alexis Walsh.
Coach McDonald and her assistant, Kim Renna, both compete in the 15-18 group. McDonald, who will attend Ramapo College in the fall, plans to continue her career as the school’s club program will become varsity in 2008.
The Hazlet club has 60 swimmers in all and Coach McDonald said competitors can continue to sign up until today.
“The team has been improving, we’re approaching the 200-point mark in our meets and the times are getting better,” the coach said. “I also want to encourage as many kids as possible to swim. They have a lot of fun and they can learn a lot.”
– Warren Rappleyea