Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993 TAG: 9307310217
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
James Wolfle isn't much older than the young swimmers he coaches in Blacksburg, but he doesn't mind. Wolfle is convinced it couldn't be a more mutually beneficial situation.
"I try to keep a fairly loose atmosphere at practice and the kids really respond to that," said Wolfle, 25. "I think it helps that I'm younger because I can relate better to them and they can relate better to me."
Wolfle is coaching 86 swimmers from his 110-member Blacksburg team today at the conclusion of the Roanoke City/County Duane Whitenack Championship at the Dedmon Center. The two-day meet is the culmination of the Roanoke Valley Aquatic Association swim season.
Wolfle grew up swimming for the Blacksburg team and competed for four years while earning a mathematics degree at Penn State University. After graduating in 1990, he was recruited by some parents of Blacksburg swimmers to take over as coach.
Wolfle said he spends 35 to 40 hours a week during the summer coaching, but only about 30 hours during the winter. He recently quit his job as a computer programmer to start work on a master's degree at Virginia Tech in the fall.
"If I could do this [coach] full time and make some money at it, I would," he said. "The kids are great and it's very satisfying."
Since Wolfle took over, the team's size has doubled. He attributes that growth to publicity, a new indoor pool in Blacksburg and better scheduling for practice times.
He also has seen the team improve continuously.
In his first year, Blacksburg finished eighth at the City/County meet. In 1991, it rose to seventh and last year the team finished sixth.
"We're not limiting ourselves to fifth this year by any means," Wolfle said. "We hope to do better than that."
But if Blacksburg doesn't, you won't see Wolfle hanging his head. The coach's philosophy involves more than just winning.
"A lot of my job is teaching them to swim, but it's also teaching them to mature. I just use swimming as the medium," Wolfle said. "It's great to take an 8-year-old kid and see them become a 12-year-old with a good head on their shoulders. And if they can swim well, too, that's great.
"I train my kids to do well, but how I define that is from within themselves. I tell them to look at what they did before and compare. If they do their best, all the ribbons and awards will follow along."
\ ONE BIG SLUMBER PARTY: Between races, the majority of the 1,053 swimmers could be found frolicking where the Radford University Highlanders usually shoot hoops.
This is the first City/County to be held at the Dedmon Center, where wall-to-wall sleeping bags, pillows and an ample supply of junk food placated the competitors from 19 clubs (17 in the Roanoke Valley plus Radford and Blacksburg).
But you won't hear many complaints about cramped quarters from swimmers, parents or the approximately 150 volunteers.
Meet co-director Don Thomas said the Dedmon Center has about double the space of the LancerLot in Vinton, where the meet had been held since 1985.
After the LancerLot's roof collapsed in March under heavy snow, the RVAA made a one-year deal with the Dedmon Center to hold the City/County meet.
"There's so much more room," said Pat Willard, who is in her ninth and final year as a co-director. "I hope that if the LancerLot isn't restored, they'll let us come back."
Adriane Bryant, 15, who swims and is an assistant coach for Aqua Net in Vinton, said her loyalties were divided.
"There is a lot more room [at the Dedmon Center] and it's neat to travel to different places," she said. "But at the LancerLot more friends and family can make it to watch."
Sydney Bryant, Adriane's 11-year-old sister, however, was more defiant about her opinion.
"I like it here a lot better," she said. "You can bring games and stuff to keep you busy between races, and there's tons of room."
by CNB