RHs Swim Teams Kick Off Their Season With Passion and Drive

With the start of a new year comes the beginning of a new swim season for Rosemead High School’s boys and girls swim team. The teams are excited and motivated to hit the water with determination and a positive attitude. This season is especially significant because four athletes have already qualified for CIF, and three of them are freshmen and sophomores. The team is proud of their achievements, and are ready to push themselves even further.

Coach Kaelon, who has been coaching both teams for 5 years, sat down for an interview to discuss his expectations for the upcoming swim season. When asked what inspired him to become a coach, he said, "I started coaching the high school swim teams back in college, a long time ago. I was inspired to become a coach because of my experience on the swim team at Cal State LA, where I had the opportunity to assist the head coach. When the next season rolled around, I was offered the position of assistant coach, and I've been coaching ever since."

Coach Kaelon's main goal for the upcoming swim season is to help every swimmer become faster and achieve their personal bests. He also wants to see as many swimmers as possible advance to CIF. He mentioned that one of the notable achievements of the swim program in recent years was that two RHS athletes advanced to CIF finals. This accomplishment has given the team a boost of confidence and motivation to continue working hard and striving for excellence.

When asked how he ensures that new swimmers feel welcome and included on the team, Coach Kaelon said, "We welcome anyone who is passionate about swimming and wants to improve their skills. We make sure that new swimmers feel welcome and included by having team bonding activities, being supportive of each other during practices and competitions, and encouraging a positive and friendly team environment."

Coach Kaelon also shared how the team handles setbacks or disappointments during the season. He said, "We handle setbacks or disappointments during the season by reminding our swimmers that it's not about winning or losing, but about improving and working towards personal bests. We encourage our swimmers to learn from their mistakes and setbacks, and use them as motivation to work harder and smarter."

Finally, when asked what message he has for the school community in support of the swim team this season, Coach Kaelon said, "We would love to see the school community come out and support our swim teams this season. Swimming is a challenging and rewarding sport that deserves recognition and appreciation. The community can help to create a positive and encouraging environment for the team by cheering them on during competitions, sharing their successes on social media, and showing their support through fundraising and donations. Every bit of support makes a difference!"

Next, we spoke with sophomore Kenny Kaelon, the varsity boys' captain, about his experience as a member of the swim team. When asked what inspired him to start swimming, he said, "I was inspired to start swimming competitively by my father, who was a swim coach for many years. I have been competing for five years now."

Kenny shared one of his favorite experiences as a member of RHS’s swim team. He said, "One of my favorite experiences was when we would all go to In-N-Out after swim meets and just hang out. This was significant to me because it was a great way to bond with my teammates, and it created a positive team dynamic."

Being part of the swim team has impacted other aspects of Kenny's life, including his academic work. Swimming motivates him to do well in school, and he has seen a significant improvement in his grades since joining the team. To balance his commitments, he prioritizes his time and makes sure to stay organized and focused.

Kenny encourages his teammates and the school community to support the swim team this season. He emphasizes that swimming may not be the most popular sport, but it is worth giving a shot. To help create a positive and encouraging environment for the team to succeed, he encourages everyone to attend the meets and participate in fundraising efforts to show their support. Together, they can help the swim team succeed and achieve their goals.

The Rosemead High School swim team is gearing up for the upcoming season with a strong determination to give their best and reach new heights of excellence. With hard work, perseverance, and a positive attitude, the athletes and coaches are committed to achieving their goals and making this season an unforgettable one. They are grateful for the support of their coaches, teammates, and the school community, and are ready to showcase their skills in the pool. 

Let's join together to cheer them on and attend their meets, as we show our unwavering support for this talented group of athletes!