EJHS Swim Team Begins

By: Zoey Carter and Jasmine Puma

1/10/24

When you think of swimming, you might not expect it as much at EJHS in winter. But it’s here! Swimming is a wonderful sport. Around 50 whole students volunteered to swim this year at the junior high, which made this one of the most largest sports at EJHS. Do you think you would like to try swimming this season? If so, read this article to answer the questions you don’t have to ask yourself, from the time and place to who’s coaching.

The Edgewood swim team started on January 17. The first meet is on February 5 at EHS pool. The people who have signed up have plenty of time to practice, and the kids who aren’t sure about joining can watch what a practice may look like.

The swim team has about 50 volunteers already, with only around 18 (if we estimate,) being boys and the rest being girls. (In which, Mr. Straw is trying to encourage around 20-25 boys on the swim team.) Swimming at EJHS isn’t brand new for the school, but for us sixth graders, it definitely is. Tryouts and coaching is ran by Mr. Straw and Mrs. Musselwhite. If you're interested in swimming and we haven’t covered one of your questions, you can ask Mr. Straw more personal questions yourself via email or his classroom number is 215 if you find he’s free. (He’s often available in the mornings during homeroom or passing periods.)

Mrs. Musselwhite coaches alongside Mr. Straw for the swim team, both of them encouraging students to participate in the fun sport. She has been  coaching the swim team for a while before Mr. Straw but he still caught up and is a great help. Mrs. Musselwhite is more of a calm teacher, the lights in her classroom often dimmed or you can see kids cooking when you look in her door. She doesn’t get kids in trouble often, more lenient and calming, far from Mr. Straw's sarcastic nature. Mrs. Musselwhite was both a high school and college swimmer, and she’s been teaching swimming since 1996. She’s been coaching at Edgewood since 2005. “I love teaching a sport I love to other people,” said Mrs. Musselwhite.

“Especially if they want to grow up and be a lifeguard/swimming instructor.” For more information about Mrs. Musselwhite’s background or part in coaching, you can contact her via email or in person.

This year is going to be Mr. Straw's official year as a coach at EJHS. But, he was a volunteer last year, and has been coaching before that for 17 years. Mr. Straw says that he just simply loves the sport. He swam in high school and college, stating that he thinks it's a sport that people can do their entire life. Mr. Straw first found out there was a swim team at EJHS when he was a coach for a team in MCCSC, where he had his first meet and it was against Edgewood. “I can’t wait to get started.” Mr. Straw said.

Mr. Straw claims that he keeps coaching because he finds the student athletes inspiring. It’s truly fascinating how strong they have to be to compete in competitions and win when it can be hard at times. “I’ll keep coaching until they take the pool away from me,” Mr. Straw said. “You can’t take coaching out of me.”

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