The Bernards swim team is back again this winter for their upcoming season. The swim team will be lead this season by seniors Lindsay Browne, and Silvie Coheleach for the girls. Seniors Ben Baxter and junior Nick Schwed will be leading the boys. This season is the 28th season for their head coach, Ed Tsuzuki.
The team had lost 12 graduating seniors from last year, ten of them being girls, and they were “left with a big hole.” Leaving them was also one of BHS most strongest swimmers, Tatiana Prendella.
However, Coach Tsuzuki is confident with the freshman team, saying that “We were extremely fortunate to receive just as many freshmen, so we have an excellent foundation on which to build.” He also says that “This year’s freshmen class is one of the strongest incoming classes we have ever seen. Like the boys class of 2011, the girls class of 2019 is a group of experienced and talented swimmers.”
As for preparing for the season, many swimmers on the team swim year round, or on the summer team. “This keeps them in great shape for the winter high school season” says Tsuzuki. He also feels as those who train in the off season show improvement, which can be “attributable to their training and sometimes it is because of growing and getting naturally stronger.”
Bernards will be competing this season in the Raritan Division of the Skyland Conference, as well as in the Somerset County Championships, and the in the Cougar Relay and Cougar Invitational meets. Practice had started November 11th for the upcoming season
