Clarke Central High School swimmers practice at the University of Georgia’s Ramsey Student Center on Nov. 1. CCHS varsity swimmer Desmond Schmutte, a senior, reflected on the sentiment shared by the team prior to their first meet of the season. ”The team seems pretty confident about (the first meet). It’s always that first meet, there’s always some nerves going into it but it’s also exciting,” Schmutte said. Photo by Angel Jara
CCHS’ swimming and diving team will have their first meet of the 2023-2024 season at the University of Georgia Ramsey Student Center on Nov. 10.
The CCHS varsity swimming and diving team will participate in its first meet of the season, a home meet at the University of Georgia’s Ramsey Student Center on Nov. 10.
The team’s first meet will be against both regional and non-regional opponents, including Cedar Shoals High School, Oconee County High School and Jackson County High School. Swimming and diving head coach Emily Hulse believes that the first meet will serve as an opportunity for swimmers to gauge the flaws in their performance and improve throughout the season.
“(I expect to) see where they’re at, so they’ll do their their races for the first time this season, and it’ll be a good way for them to say, ‘Oh, I really need to practice my turns’ or ‘Oh, I really need to practice my relay starts’ or ‘Hey, my individual start wasn’t what it should be,’” Hulse said. “The expectation is that they’re gonna swim their event and then afterwards, they’re gonna reflect on it and try to improve from there.”
“(I expect to) see where they’re at, so they’ll do their their races for the first time this season, and it’ll be a good way for them to say, ‘Oh, I really need to practice my turns’ or ‘Oh, I really need to practice my relay starts’ or ‘Hey, my individual start wasn’t what it should be.’ The expectation is that they’re gonna swim their event and then afterwards, they’re gonna reflect on it and try to improve from there.”
— Emily Hulse,
Swimming and diving head coach
CCHS varsity swimmer Desmond Schmutte, a senior, has high hopes for the team’s first meet due to his prior experience swimming at the Ramsey Student Center.
“I’m feeling pretty good. I always like home meets out in the Ramsey Center. It’s always a lot of fun,” Schmutte said. “There’s a lot of different schools that come here and plus, I know everything about the Ramsey Center because I’ve been practicing there for five years.”
Despite not all swimmers being fully conditioned yet, Hulse is optimistic that the team will put in their best effort.
”At the beginning of the season, we still have some swimmers who are getting back in shape,” Hulse said.”We have some who have not stopped swimming since the last swim season. I feel confident with those swimmers and the events that they’re going to do, but I feel confident that everybody’s going to try their best.”
