THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511170871
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Long : 101 lines
IT'S IRONIC that in a region unique for its extraordinary expanses of water, competitive swimming has been virtually non-existent.
Until now.
Manteo High School this month launched its first varsity swim team, a direct result of determined efforts by the two coaches.
``This is the first time that someone has been willing to say, 'Hey, we need this and we need to get the funding for this,'' said Algie Campbell, athletic director at the high school.
After years of tossing out feelers and never having one lobbed back, JoAnn Small and Sharon Serine, both teachers at Manteo Middle School, approached the School Board in early fall with their proposal to organize the team and have it use the pool at nearby Nautics Hall. Finally, everything clicked.
``This is certainly something that had been talked about for the last seven or eight years,'' said district Superintendent H. Leon Holleman. But a swim team never materialized before, he said, ``because no one took the bull by the horns and spearheaded it.''
Which is where Small and Serine entered. Having been involved in teaching or coaching young swimmers for years, the women have observed firsthand the need for a more concerted outlet for the sport.
``We both had the same interest as for just wanting the high school students in this area to have an opportunity to improve their swimming skills and maintain a healthy lifestyle through this alternative varsity sport,'' Small said. ``Living here surrounded by water, we felt like it's real important that these. . . kids have an opportunity to become better swimmers.''
Once they got the go-ahead from the School Board, try-outs were held and a team was quickly assembled.
``We have 30 kids - that's pretty good for a new sport,'' said Campbell, adding that the 27 girls and three boys probably wouldn't have participated in any other winter sport. ``I just think it's real good that we have something else for students to get involved in.''
When Serine, who teaches physical education, first arrived on the Outer Banks, she said she was shocked at how poor the swimming skills were of the elementary-age children she was teaching then. So she incorporated swimming lessons into her classes.
``It just made me mad that you live right here on the water . . . you would think you would have more excellent swimmers,'' Serine recalled.
At the time, she said, she was one of the few physical education teachers in the state to teach swimming.
``I taught the entire school to swim for the next 11 years,'' Serine said. ``Before I left, I was only teaching first-graders because I had already taught everybody else.''
So not only was Serine teaching the kids survival skills, she was gradually creating a team of skilled swimmers looking to expand their expertise and participate in competitions.
``We now have swimmers when they get to high school, and they want something else in the winter,'' she said. ``We have kids that are swimming in the summer, and they want to use this as their winter sport - as well they should.''
Until the swim team was added, the high school offered only girls' and boys' junior varsity and varsity basketball, cheerleading and wrestling as its winter sports choices.
Summer club teams have been organized at Colington Harbour in Colington and Duck Woods in Southern Shores for eight years, Serine said. There is also a winter intramural team at Nautics Hall in Manteo, which she has coached for 11 years. Serine is also a certified lifeguard training instructor.
As far as the teamwork that was involved in making the swim team a reality, Serine said it was matter of combined expertise.
``She does the paperwork and the footwork,'' Serine said of Small, a mid-grade business teacher. ``I do most of the coaching, and it works out great.''
Part of the difficulty in realizing a varsity team was the lack of competition in northeastern North Carolina, where few other schools have teams. Also, the school has no pool.
But Serine said she's confident competition in swimming will grow as it did in soccer. And the pool at Nautics Hall, although not Olympic-sized, is a workable place to practice.
So far, their efforts have paid off. The team has received enthusiastic support from administrators, parents and community volunteers. Already, it is showing promise after their first practice meet. Soon the team will have official swimsuits, caps and goggles in the black and gold school colors adorned with Manteo High's logo.
``I do anticipate having some swimmers that will qualify for (the March 9) state competition,'' Small said.
Holleman said the sport will be evaluated after its season is completed, and if it passes muster, it will be put into the athletic director's budget for next year. Costs for the program, he anticipates, will include $2,000-3,000 for pool rental and about $1,200 for coach salaries, plus uniform costs.
``I hope that it will grow and expand and become a viable sport,'' said Holleman, adding that unlike pursuits such as football, people can swim well past their prime.
``It becomes a lifelong sport.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CATHERINE KOZAK
Swimmers prepare to leave the blocks during a practice session of
the Manteo High School team.
by CNB