Prep swimming: Gaining attention

Published 11:01 pm Monday, January 19, 2015

With two of the best swimmers in the nation making their home on the Dalton High School boys swim team during the past few years, the Catamounts have been one of the top programs in the state and even captured the Class A-5A state title two years ago.

But the girls team has been left behind in the boys’ wake.

A Dalton girls swimmer hasn’t made a qualifying time for the state meet since 2012 when current senior Ninive Arriola qualified in the backstroke. Since then, the Lady Cats haven’t made a ripple at the state level.

But the current team and their new coach are changing their fortunes.

When coach Charles Todd stepped down this past year to take directorship of a swimming facility in metro Atlanta, he was replaced by two coaches, with Sharlinda Haight taking over the boys program and Carl Chenard coaching the girls. Now, the girls say they get more individualized coaching, and the results are being seen.

Romina Mendoza, Laura Shaheen, Oli Valdez and Arriola have already qualified for state in the 400-yard freestyle relay, and the same group is on the cusp of earning a qualifying time in the 200 freestyle. Arriola is also close on her times to advance in the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.

The swimmers said a change in attitude for the entire team has meant a more impressive showing this year.

“This year, the coaches have added more practice and focus on the details than in the past,” Arriola said. “It is kind of the same as any other year, but a lot better. We are doing things that will help all of us get faster. Now, there is more motivation to do better, and it is very noticeable.”

Chenard isn’t new to the program, having coached under Todd as an assistant four years ago. Since then, he has been a big supporter of the program, and he is taking that same cheering attitude to the pool as a coach.

“I think they realized that I have always been one of their cheerleaders from the stands, and they know I have been there,” Chenard said. “We are looking all the way down the line through the middle school as well. The girls have always had the ability, but I don’t think that they had the motivation. They have always had the skills. Eventually they realized they could. It has brought back some energy to build some success.”

The change in attitude is something all of the members of the relay team commented on when discussing the state of the program this year.

“It wasn’t the other coach’s fault but the boys had the best talent so that was where the focus was,” Shaheen, a sophomore, said.

Said Mendoza: “We just needed a new attitude, and the coaches have really stepped up. We feel like they care as much about the girls as the guys.”

It is easy to understand why the focus has been on the boys in recent seasons. Two years ago, led by current University of Georgia swimmer Taylor Dale, Dalton won the team state title. Last year, Ethan Young won the state title in the 100 backstroke and finished second in the 100 butterfly.

Chenard has made it his priority to get the girls program at that elite level along with the boys.

“It starts early on,” he said. “Really, if you look at our middle school team, those girls have already shown a big step forward in their meets from last year to this year. They are doing their part to build up their half of the program. To be a top program, we have to have both the boys and the girls at their highest level, and that is the goal.”