- By Joyce Mulcahy Jones
- Sports
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The team welcomes four freshmen to the team, and Coach Vaughan claims it will be a "building year". The team is also very strong with five Sophomores and seven Juniors. Returning Juniors are David Bandler, Justin Craig, Ari Darlow, Aaron Eddy, Max Mackenzie, Dan Ravas, and Pat Rodgers. The Coach pointed out that most of these older boys 'Swim Club' (LCATS) which means that they swim year-round and they are "a solid group".
The Senior swimmer, Jake Sangren, returns as the team's All-American. Sangren was the Backstroker on last year's All-American Medley Relay Team (which included Hans Roser, Aaron Mychalk, and Sterling Gell). The Coach said that the team will "be able to stick him anywhere" which means Jake will excel in any event! Sangren specializes in the Backstroke, and he will be a dynamic performer for the team this year. You will also see Lansing's swimmers utilizing teamwork and sportsmanship. These teenagers know the meaning of commitment and hard work in their sport.
When Vaughan was asked what team would be the toughest competition, he responded that it would be "Waverly, again." Waverly has swimmers including Lucas Hogan and Kyle Hamilton who are always amazing to watch and compete against.
However, the Lansing swimmers are training hard. Vaughan said that practices are usually 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. The team regularly adds weight lifting (5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) to its practice schedule on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.), as well as Saturdays (8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.). The team does a great deal of strength training in order to build a strong 'core' which aids a swimmer with powering through the water. In fact it can be said that in each stroke, with a strong core, a swimmer's arms are 'just along for the ride'.
Lansing faces Watkins Glen this Thursday, November 29th at Watkins.
Lansing's new coach is committed and determined. He said that in order to take on this important coaching assignment, he has had to 'scale back' on the time he has spent coaching LCATS (Lansing's Swim Club). Vaughan refers to Reed Dewey as his mentor. The two have analyzed and worked on 'workout sheets' and 'season design' together. He also credits Bob Terry with being another coaching mentor. Terry is a masterful and gifted swim coach who is credited with working tirelessly with the developmental age group as well as guiding and shaping many older swimmers in the sport. The coaching team of 'Dewey and Terry' is becoming very well-known and respected by parents and swim fans in Lansing and other areas!
I was struck by how Coach Vaughan already sounds like a seasoned, veteran coach, sharing his knowledge of swimming with our Lansing Swimmers. He looks forward to tremendous support from the Lansing community and School District.
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