Commitment and Focus are Paying off
Austin Baraki is straightforward about his feelings for swimming. “This is a sport I love. I get a real sense of accomplishment from swimming. Even when I am exhausted during a set, I remember that each lap makes me stronger.” When asked about his plans after graduating from Princess Anne, Baraki is modest. “I will swim in college, but I think I am going the more academic route because I am not a phenom,” he explains.
Oh, really? Baraki has already proven himself a state-level athlete, not to mention several district and regional awards he has garnered. This sixteen-year-old junior, aside from a solid ability in the water, exhibits steady reserve to boot. “In practice, I try to boost my endurance and technique by focusing on specific things like breathing patterns,” says Baraki. He swims in the off-season in addition to spending the fall and winter months with Princess Anne’s swimming program, so it is fair to say that Baraki knows potential when he sees it. “We are really balanced this year,” he says. “We have at least two strong swimmers to cover each event.”
Coach Jay Smith agrees with Baraki’s assessment. “There is a lot of depth this year,” explains the coach. Last season, the Cavaliers were strong in two or three events but this year is different. Smith expects there to be a much broader range of events in which individual athletes, and the team as a whole, excel. Specifically, Princess Anne’s boys start events well. Perhaps their biggest asset is quickness off the starting blocks, allowing them to gain critical inches early in events. “In the past,” Smith says, “we have had maybe a few athletes swim at the district level and maybe one at the regional level. This year we should top that by a lot. I anticipate several advancing to the district and regional levels.” According to Smith, the number of swimmers making state cuts should increase as well.
Smith, in his eleventh year as Princess Anne’s boys’ swimming coach, describes this group as one of the best he has coached. “The sheer talent we have this year is encouraging. We effectively had no strong seniors graduate last year, so this group is not only dedicated and extremely gifted, but they are experienced as well.”
The Cavaliers’ talent, however, has not come easily. Smith has changed the practice regimen somewhat to reflect the demands of his district. Specifically, Princess Anne devotes some of their practice time to strength training. Aside from sets that the athletes perform, the Cavaliers also use weights, such as medicine balls, as an important tool. Strength and endurance are a must in the Beach District, because it often produces some of the top swimmers in Virginia. All indications are that the Cavaliers’ more comprehensive training is paying off. Smith notes that several races early in the season that the young men should have lost on paper turned out to be upsets, a fact he attributes in part to the weights.
Princess Anne’s boys should remain strong this season. Ocean Lakes and Kempsville always offer stiff competition, but the Cavaliers have the intensity to give them a run for their money. Cox, which was first in the district last year, is considered the team to beat and Princess Anne has a fair shot at doing so. Smith wants to finish strong this year. “Last year, as a team, we placed fifth in regional competition. This year we want to be higher,” says Smith. This team is one that can place well in the Eastern Region. Aside from Baraki, Princess Anne’s roster is full of capable swimmers: Matt Long (100 breast and 200 IM); Jeff Heckleman (distance freestyle); Brandon Parker (diving).
Regardless of how these standouts and others on the team place, however, Smith describes this swimming program as one that is successful. “These are smart kids,” he explains. “Many are in the International Baccalaureate program. They study and manage their time well. The camaraderie with this group is amazing. We have pasta parties and breakfast before school. The parents are heavily involved, too. All of these factors make for strong athletes here.”
A good coach. Smart, state-level athletes. Dedicated parents. That sure sounds like a successful swimming program.
