Heart and hope keeps Clyde/Savannah swim team afloat

Female swimmers: Lauren Wescott (front right), Victoria VanHoover (front left) and Lexi Hughes (center) have joined the Clyde-Savannah boys to make a full team.

Clyde Savannah puts forth a small swim team, but with mighty members. Of the 11 members, 3 are girls.

One female swimmer, in particular, Lauren Wescott, has set records for her team. “Lauren is one of the hardest working members of my team,” said Coach Christine Lauster. “Without her, our season would not have been as successful s it was.”

According to Coach Lauster, the Clyde Savannah swim team which she has coached for four years, had never won a meet until the 2007 season. This year, their record is 2 wins and 7 losses overall, which doubled last year's win.

There are no divers on the team since the pool at C/S is 1 foot too shallow and the pool length is too short, causing a steeper incline than allowed by swim rules. The pool was built back in the 50s in reaction to the double deaths of two brothers who drowned; one who tried to save the other sibling. The school board decided to prevent another tragedy and the community voted to build the pool to offer lessons.

There have been several aquatic programs over the years that were well received by the community and students. Coach Lauster's hope is that through this team's dedication and successes, other students might give the team a try, too.

“Clyde Savannah doesn't win often, but we have made 20 school records this season and 7 of the kids have qualified for Sectionals.. up from only 1 athlete three years ago,” said the coach.

At a recent meet in Geneva , the Clyde Savannah team lost, but Lauren Wescott, who is a junior, swam the 500 meter in 6:34:17. She needed 6:40 to qualify for sectionals. So she will now compete against boys in the Section V sectionals. Lauren's brother Drew, who graduated a few years ago, held two school records for the 200 and 500 freestyle events. Those records still hold and Lauren in intent on beating her brother's record. She is inching closer each meet.

At the Geneva meet, the Clyde Savannah swim team set six school records.

The team consists of Senior Lowell Whiting: 4th year, school record in the 100 butterfly and member of several relay teams: 200 Medley Relay & 200 Freestyle relay and 400 Freestyle relay; qualified for sectionals in the 50 and 100 Freestyle and will swim relays.

Senior Anthony LaBoy: 1st year, Freestyle and Football star. Junior Ethan Wright: 3rd year, School Record holder in the 50 and 100 Freestyle and member of several relay teams: 200 Medley Relay & 200 Freestyle Relay & 400 Freestyle relay; qualified for sectionals in 50 and 100 Freestyle and will swim relays.

Junior Andrew Castellano: 1st year, member of school record in 200 Free Relay team; qualified for sectionals in the 50 Freestyle and will swim in relays.

Junior Lauren Wescott: 3rd year, qualified for sectionals in the 500 Freestyle and will swim relays

Junior Victoria VanHoover: 3rd year, swims the backstroke.

Sophomore Zach Orbaker: 2nd year, School Record in the 200 Individual Medley and the 100 Backstroke; member of the school record in 100 Medley Relay; qualified for sectionals in the 200 IM, backstroke and will swim relays.

Sophomore Zach Mein: 2nd year, member of the school record 200 medley Relay team, the 200 Freestyle Relay team, School record holder in the 100 Breast Stroke; qualified for sectionals in the 200 IM and the 100 Breast stroke and will swim relays.

Freshman Lexi Hughes: 1st year, swims the 200 and 500 Freestyle, may swim in a sectional relay.

8th Grade: Jonathan Sheffield: 1st year, swims the 100 Butterfly, may swim in a sectional relay.

8th Grader Alex Marro: 1st year, swims the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 100 Breast stroke.

The only school record remaining is the 200 and 500 Freestyle held by Drew Wescott from 2004 and last year's 400 Relay record set by Nate Metcalf, Joe McIlwain, Lowell Whiting and Ethan Wright.