Swimming Our Way to a Great Season

Swimming+Our+Way+to+a+Great+Season

Here at Carolina Forest, our swim teams are off to a great start this season. So far, the girl’s team finished third and the boys placed first at North Myrtle Beach Invitational. They also placed second in a highly competitive Ripley’s Invitational. 

The swim team is able to secure these wins because of their dynamic team. This year, there are only three seniors on the team; over half of the team ranges from seventh to ninth graders. Although they are young, they are talented and built for success. 

Coach Jeffery Goodman states, “While we are young, we are also experienced, which is unique.”

Coach Goodman describes the team as very hardworking. Their goal is to win championships with their hard work and dedication. Practicing has and will continue to pay off as far as meeting their goals. 

As a team, they practice around 4.5 hours a week to strengthen their teamwork and ensure the best results at heats. Most swimmers practice at home, as well as at their scheduled time. 

On September 5, the boy’s swim team swam to another first-place finish at the North Myrtle Beach Invitational.   Just after setting a new school record, Andrew Nuculai set a record in the 200 Freestyle. Carolina Forest dominated with 107 points. In second place was Saint James with 63 points. 

Junior Andrew Nuculai has set many records including 100 Free, 200 IM, 200 Free, 100 Back, and 400 Free Relay. To achieve these accomplishments he works hard to train and prepare for events.

Nuculai comments, “My typical practice looks like warm-ups and then hard sets to get ready for the next meet.”

The girl’s varsity swim team was supposed to have a year of rebuilding and was expected to be inexperienced. They, however, earned a  first place team finish at the Panther Invitational. Freshmen Dominique Ulmer and Chandra Robideaux placed first and second place in their individual events. Robideaux is guaranteed a spot in the State Championship meet. Arika Boudreau, a junior, finished with two third-place finishes in individual events and two State Championship consideration times.

Bourdreau adds, “I enjoy swimming because of the social aspect of it. I like the environment it creates. It is fun and happy and includes a lot of pumping up together before meets.”

The team’s strength is depth. They have a lot of talent on the team although they are young. Their depth and ability to score are their advantages whereas smaller teams cannot play to their advantage.

Best of luck for the rest of the season!