Dothan HS swim team back in action
DOTHAN, Ala. — Compared to other sports, swimming is relatively new on the high school sports scene. In 2012 Northview High School dipped their proverbial toe in the water and had the first high school swim team in Dothan. When the high schools consolidated, the team continued.
Dothan Tech Health Science Instructor, Amanda Walding, serves as the swim team coach. The assistant coach is Brandon Donaldson who was a collegiate swimmer at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Walding said, “Brandon brings along his expertise in the sport and a passion for working with the swimmers.”
The swim season starts the first week of August and runs through the first week of December at the state championship. The Wolves will compete in eight competitions before sectionals in Mobile which are scheduled for November 18. However, there are not many swim meets held locally due to limited space and several local teams needing that space. “We can only practice at Westgate for three hours a week and we share that pool time with Rehobeth and Houston Academy.”
High Schoolers compete in four types of individual stroke races. Those include freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke. There is one relay race, the 200 yard medley relay where four swimmers swim 50 yards of one stroke. The Dothan team consists of 15 swimmers, both male and female, in grades 9-12. Senior Cody Wagoner is the standout on the team. Walding said, “He has competed at the Alabama High School State Championship for the past two seasons in individual events.” Cody plans to attend Birmingham Southern College or Rhodes College for swimming and aspires to major in engineering. Other up and coming stand out swimmers include sophomore Elijah Sekeres and freshman Smith Williams. “We anticipate having at least one boys relay team at the state championship in Auburn in December,” Walding said. She added, “We have an absolutely fantastic group of swimmers who care about each other and work hard to succeed in and out of the water.” Good luck to the Dothan Wolves Swim Team. We will be tracking your progress!
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