Tahoma boys swim team working towards season goals
MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. — The Tahoma High School (THS) Boys Swim Team is young and talented. Under the guidance of Head Swim Coach, Theresa Castaneda, and Assistant Coaches: Brian Wright and Kris Hawkinson, this team aspires to finish the year in the top three at Districts and the top 10 at State.
Coach Castaneda, a former club, high school, and collegiate swimmer, has been the Head Swim Coach for the Boys Swim Team since the 2016/2017 season. Since then, the team has broken 11 of the 12 records on the THS record board. “Their talent is coming together,” said Coach Castaneda. “They will be a force in the next few years.”
According to Coach, one of the keys to the team’s success is their work ethic: “They work hard, but know how to have fun.” An example of how their hard work paid off, occurred recently at the Kentridge Invitational when the team finished 10th overall, and as a team had 25 personal best times.
This year the team selected three captains, who are a mix, grade wise: Mason Cardoza (Senior), Zach Price (Junior), and Shaw Nishizawa (Sophomore). Coach Castaneda believes their selection will benefit the team because “they are very talented and work well together.”
Any parent with a teenage son knows that food plays a huge role in their life. This team exemplifies that! Their pre-meet and post-meet rituals consist of spaghetti feeds before away meets, and going to Red Robin after home meets.
When Sophomore, Jackson Butcher, was asked what he loved about his sport, he replied, “Eating!!! A great thing about being a swimmer is having a huge appetite. And, if you know me, I’m always hungry.”
This team is hungry and not just in a food related way. They are hungry for success. So far this season two team members have qualified for State. Sophomore, Evan Angeline, has qualified in the 200 IM and 500 Free, and Jackson Butcher has qualified in the 500 Free. “There are several others on the horizon that will also make up the state team,” shared Coach Castaneda.
If you have any questions about the team’s desire to succeed, take a look at some of the responses they provided when asked about their personal goals within the sport and their athletic dreams.
Evan Angeline: “Ultimately, I want to get an Olympic Trials Cut. My short term goal is to be the state champion of the 200 IM and the 500 Free.”
Zach Price: “Swim 100 Breast at State.”
Jackson Butcher: “I hope to help Tahoma High win a State Championship at least once over the next few years. After high school, my goal is to swim in college and become an NCAA champion.”
This young, talented, and ambitious team has a bright future. Regardless of how this season plays out, the friendships, competition, and love for being in the water has brought this team closer together. This team has the mindset to overcome any adversity they may encounter.
“Part of growing as a swimmer is failing. Persevering above those failures is what turns a good swimmer into a great swimmer.” – Jackson Butcher
The THS Boys Swim Team is in good hands with Coaches Castaneda, Wright, and Hawkinson. I anticipate records will fall and championships will be won.
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