By Tahji Collins
There is something most students don’t know about our school: it has a Swim Club.
Math teacher Alyssa Higgins and parent Jodi Roberts, whose son is junior Carter Roberts, started the club last year.
“I’ve seen many Henrico schools have a swimming club, and I think Varina needed one too,” Mrs. Higgins said. She said it took three years to get a Swim Club.
Mrs. Higgins has been swimming for 20 years and coaching for eight. To get members for the swim club, she got a few participants from Sandston swimming pool where she taught and coached. Mrs. Higgins said that she wants more instructors and athletes to join the club.
Freshman Kevin Bruce found out about the club from Mrs. Higgins.
“I’ve been swimming since I was seven,” Kevin said.
His main event is the backstroke, and he said that he wants to work on getting faster times. In a typical practice, he builds strength and endurance.
Kevin said he likes the club because “everybody on the team are friends and get along.” He also said there’s not a lot of pressure.
“I enjoy doing it. I get to be around my friends. It’s not like you have to make the play of the day. If you mess up, it’s not a big deal,” Kevin said.
Freshman swimmer Kris Riggs swims the 50 and 100 free style but prefers the 50. He has been swimming since he was six. He said he enjoys the program.
“If I had one word to describe this club, it would be exciting,” Kris said, adding that he plans to continue in this club and recommends it to others.
“I would recommend this club for anyone who enjoys swimming,” Kris said.
Junior Calin Ratlief, one of the first Swim Club members, said that the club collaborates for practice with larger programs.
“We collaborate with Hermitage and Glen Allen since their programs are bigger than the one at Varina,” Calin said. She expressed hope that they could get their own team instead of being grouped with others.
“The whole team doesn’t practice together,” Calin said. “Some of us go to Burkwood Aquatic Club in Mechanicsville or a YMCA.”
She said practice includes a warm-up, drills specific to different strokes and a cool down.
“It’s always fun at practice,” Calin said. “Most of us have known each other for years, so we’re like brothers and sisters.”
Senior Gabriel Rivera, who has been swimming for 12 years, said he joined the club to keep up with his favorite sport.
“I like the unity and being able to be with my friends,” Gabriel said.
Gabriel said that Olympian Michael Phelps influenced him to swim. According to his teammates, Gabriel is a strong swimmer, but he said that he “needs to improve on his times on each event.”
The Swim Club has six swimmers, so Coach Higgins hopes to add athletes to make the club become a team.
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