OA Swim and Dive Teams Come Off Successful 2010-'11 Season

The buzz surrounding this year's Oliver Ames swim and dive team team was unlike any other year.

With 47 swimmers on the roster this year, both the boys’ and the girls’ swim teams recorded a 5-4 record and accomplished one of its goals for the 2010-11 season.

“Our goal for both teams was to have a winning record this year,” said head coach Lauren Gray about her team’s season. “And for the first time ever, we accomplished that goal. We increased our roster from 14 swimmers a few years ago to 47 and we improved with every meet.”

One aspect of the team’s success came from the senior class; and they had some challenges to begin the season. The seven-member class of 2011 (Sean Bruno, Alexandra Hurley. Kelsey Hyde, Brett Johnson, Aaron Davis, Jake Melvin and Ashley Silverstein) had a difficult challenge in replacing an impressive senior class of 2010 that helped the program gain some traction.

Despite that, the seniors were able to help the Tigers make a big splash this year.

“They had a lot to work for because last year’s class made a pretty good impression,” Gray said about her seniors. “They worked from day one to keep the team steady this year and they were always looking to improve.

“At the end of the day they didn’t regret anything and they proved themselves after each practice and every meet.”

Team success usually comes with individual success during the course of the season. This year’s swim teams were no different.

Three members of the swim team took part in the state tournament this past weekend, all of who put together impressive performances.

In the 100-yard butterfly, junior captain Matt Bates set a personal record with a time of 57.65 while Johnson – another captain – placed 32nd with a time of 1:01.08.

The most impressive performance this weekend, however, came from freshman Jacquey Gover. Against some of the best competition, Gover finished sixth in the one-meter diving event recording a score of 354.85 from the judges and a couple of weeks ago during sections she tallied a score of 395.

This was Gover’s first year diving, and judging by her accomplishments this year, Gray has a reason to be optimistic about the freshman’s future.

“She’s really a front page story,” said the Swim coach. “Last year she came had an injury coming out of gymnastics and this year was her first year in diving and we didn’t know what to expect in the beginning.

“She continued to impress with every meet,” Gray added. “She gave a lot of teams a run for their money and probably kept us in for all nine meets. She broke a lot of records as a freshman and she walked into the states with poise and grace. I can’t say enough about her.”

After a winning record, a fifth place finish in the Hockomock Championships and some individual accomplishments, the future is getting brighter for the swimming and diving teams.

Next year, the swim team will look to make a bigger splash in the Hockomock League.

“At the end of this year our swimmers were asking for more and more out of the team and out of themselves and that brought a lot of positive energy,” Gray said. “I think we could be one of the top three teams next year if we can continue to grow our strength and endurance, which is what made us such a strong team this year.”