Edgewood High School Water Polo / Swimming Season Preview

Coach Jacqui Sanchez of the Edgewood High School Swim Team has high hopes for the team this season. With a strong group of returning players and some impressive new additions, she believes they have the potential to achieve great success. As the head coach of both the swim and water polo teams, Coach Jacqui has a unique perspective on how to motivate and train her players. In this article, we will dive into the strategies and goals that Coach Jacqui has for this year's team. The overall goal for the team this season is to qualify for CIF with faster times. This is a more competitive field than previous years, and the boys have been working hard to achieve these automatic qualification times. One of the key factors to success is getting the boys in the right mindset, as Coach Jacqui explains, "we have been working on getting in the right frame of mind to get the boys used to competing pace as opposed to feeling relaxed during practices." This mental shift is crucial for achieving peak performance during competitions. The team is primarily made up of juniors, with players like Jeremiah Hoil, Julian Lomeli, Benjamin Johnston-Herrera, and Evan Mendoza leading the way. Coach Jacqui speaks highly of these young athletes, saying they have already shown a lot of promise early in the season. In addition, new additions Christopher Sullivan and Dario Vanmarcke have impressed the coach with their speed and skill. When it comes to choosing team captains, Coach Jacqui looks for leadership qualities and a positive impact on the team. This season, the captains are Jeremiah Hoil, Benjamin Johnston-Herrera, and Evan Mendoza. Each brings a different aspect to the team - high energy, accountability, and teaching proper technique. Their leadership will be key in keeping the team focused and motivated throughout the season. Creating team chemistry and camaraderie is a priority for Coach Jacqui. She explains, "we have bonding days, team meetings, mindset-building exercises, and just overall having the boys get along and lift one another up." This sense of unity can lead to a stronger team performance and a more enjoyable experience for all players. Motivating players to push themselves to their full potential can be a challenge, but Coach Jacqui has found success through genuine interest and sensitive honesty. By establishing a personal connection with her players, she is able to gain their trust and get them to push themselves harder.