#1StudentNWI: Shining a Light on Michigan City’s Swimming & Diving Team

michigan-city-poolWhen it comes to winter, high school sports like basketball often times steal the show. While basketball is one of the most entertaining sports, little coverage is given to one of the most physically demanding sports in any season.

Swimming and diving teams in general often do not get the coverage they deserve. Months before the season starts, the dedicated swimmers of Michigan City High School are putting hours of training.

Now both the girls’ and boys’ teams are training twice a day with improvement constantly growing and showing. After losing eight seniors from last season, getting a new head coach, and a new class of freshman swimmers the girls’ team did not know what to expect but are very hopeful. This year, the girls’ team has eleven swimmers.

Coach Mel Kovenz said, “The girls are down in numbers with 10 for competition at this time. We can't really compete with other DAC schools, not being able to fill the events and have two relays in the relay event with larger teams. Improvement is expected and is being worked on daily.”

However, small numbers does not mean small achievements. While every achievement is nice to have accomplished, the girls’ team knows they can do more than they ever have and no time is better than now. The girls are really hoping to pack as big of a punch possible with their relatively small team. Junior Lizzie Quinlan said, “My expectations for this swim season are for my team and I as a whole to do better than we ever have, even try to make it to state at the end of the season.”

The boys’ team only lost four seniors last year, so their number of rostered swimmers was not hit too hard, with nineteen swimmers hitting the water for the Wolves. Like any team, the boys’ are very hopeful for the rest of the season, and with good reason. The boys have several key swimmers that will help City to make it far this season. The boys have set high goals, but nothing is out of grasp.

Junior Tim Schoof, one of the team's key swimmers, said some of his goals are to “Win sectionals in the 100 Butterfly, advance to state in both the 100 backstroke as well as the 100 fly where I hope to be a finalist.” He contiuned, “I would also like our medley relay to advance to state.”

Regarding the boys’ team Kovenz said, “The boys team is strong in numbers compared to the girls with 19 swimmers. led by state qualifier Tim Schoof, supported by Mohammed and Ali Hakim, Marshall DeBone, David Duenas and seniors Justin Smoker and Danny Smith. Conditioning for them has been challenging also, with new techniques and training to challenge them in the mental and physical arena. Expectations are high and the boys are working to be the best they can be by sectional and conference time."

While swimming is not new to Kovenz, City is. He said, “Coaching at Michigan City has been a new learning experience after choosing to be an assistant coach for the last 23 years at La Porte and doing diving. The hardest part is dealing with a small team and balancing all the requirements to handle and facilitate two teams starting at different times. Having the previous coaching staff and volunteer coaches Dan Jenkins and Charlie Greiss involved make the handling a bit easier.”

Before the season, the head coaching position was up in the air, but many are glad Kovenz has taken the job. Kovenz later stated, “I was head coach at Southmont Jr.-Sr.High School, MC Rogers, DePauw University, and coached diving at Saint Mary's College, along with age group coaching, for about 30 years with the Sullair Piranhas in Michigan City and the La Porte Turbos Swim Club in LaPorte. Being a head coach is not new to me, but being in small facilities and probably the oldest pool in the DAC becomes challenging with 30 or more swimmers at a time in a 6 lane pool.”

To end, Coach Kovenz said, “I kind of look forward to the end of the season so I can look back, measure accomplishments, evaluate new changes and challenges, and try to continue to develop strokes, success, and keep on swimming.”