To swim or not to swim? Good question, did you know you could join swim and NOT actually swim?

It’s true. Senior Miranda Phillips has been a swim manager for three years at the Gladstone Community Center where all four district high schools participate in swim meets and dive competitions.

A swim manager assists the coach with the behind the scenes. In this case, it means getting out fins, kick boards and the rest of the equipment before practices. Timing during meets, scoring dives and just making sure everything runs smoothly.

One of Phillips’ biggest lessons was that swimming is harder than it looks. Not just the physicality of it, but learning what it looks like and the details of scoring and timing.

“Yes I would recommend people managing. It’s a great way to get involved and meet new people,” Phillips said. “And swim is unique because it’s all four schools so you get to make new friends from all over.  It’s also a great way to learn responsibility and have a great time.  But if you’re going to do it you have to do stuff and know that you are relied on. And your not there to mess around and do nothing all the time.”

The environment is family like, very welcoming and always glad to have new people join.

“My favorite part of swim is watching someone who’s worked so hard all year get their state cut.  Seeing their face and their reaction of the weight lifted off their shoulders and so fun to see.   And my least favorite is walking up at 5 a.m. for dive swim meets even though I end up enjoying it.”

The atmosphere going from setting up an hour before the meet, warm ups dives and last minute scratches and changed to who will swim what, to a giant “Whoopsie” chant right before it all begins. Then silence falls and swimmers line up, the buzzer buzzes and coach is literally jumping up and down along the side of the pool motivating and keeping the swimmers on track.

The best races are the State cuts tryouts. Parents and friends not only yelling for their swimmer, but for all the swimmers.

This was Phillips’ senior year and her last year to manage swim. She already misses the boys season, but is actively managing the girls season. She will miss them all greatly when she won’t be able to come back next year and do it all over again.