Meet Sequoyah graduate and Bradshaw Farm Barracudas assistant coach Ally Williams
CANTON, Ga. — Alessandra “Ally” Williams is currently serving as an Assistant Coach for the Bradshaw Farm Barracudas summer swim team for the second season. She began swimming around 8 years old and eventually joined the Sequoyah High School swim and dive team, where she has lettered all four years. In her Senior season, she was named a captain and an alternate for the state championship team. After graduation, she plans to attend Columbus State University to major in Communications: Film Production and minor in Creative Writing.
Ally feels that the most beneficial aspect of their training as Barracudas is that they have been taught that a team will excel when you uplift each other, treating your teammates as if they are your friends to create a welcoming and comforting environment.
A highlight of last summer as a coach was when the Bradshaw Farm Barracudas won against their biggest rivals by a single point, the Woodmont Waves. She says, “It was a great feeling knowing we pushed through some tough races and won.”
Her proudest coaching moment last season came from a little girl that was always trying her hardest to improve her technique during practices. Ally worked with her during private lessons as well, resulting in 45 seconds dropped off the little girl’s backstroke time at the very next meet!
The biggest lesson she has learned as a coach is that it is alright to make mistakes. “Mistakes don’t mean you are a failure, but rather that you are a champion in the making. Those who make ‘no mistakes’ are the ones who don’t push themselves to their full capability,” she says. Ally reminds the swimmers of this every time one of them apologizes for messing up. She wants to make an impact on these swimmers’ lives by making them love the sport that are in. She has personally had coaches who pushed her until she no longer enjoyed the sport she was playing, but she has also had coaches that made her love the sport. She believes that athletics are an experience that people should love and adore.
“Winning is not as important as some individuals may think. Here at Bradshaw, we focus on turning our swimmers into the best swimmers they can be. If we are to lose a meet, but some of our swimmers swam their best ever races, that is a true win in our books,” Ally shares.
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