The Swimming Chiefs 2021 season began in earnest last week. Despite many setbacks and challenges, the team is eager to compete. Coaches Steve Trivino and Elizabeth Coogan-Russell are excited to begin the season and lead this year’s team. 

The Chiefs are currently practicing at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. About a 30 minute bus ride with traffic, the team has sacrificed precious after-school time to swim this year. This large commitment has led to some people choosing not to participate. But a dedicated group of swimmers has remained committed to the Chiefs 2021 swim team.             For all previous seasons, the team has practiced and hosted meets at the Caldwell Community Center (CCC). Due to the strains of the pandemic on the CCC’s facilities and operations, however, the Chiefs are unable to practice there this year.  

The first meet is scheduled for Friday December 3 vs. Newark Academy. Most of the upcoming meets will be held away at other teams’ pools. Home meets are difficult to schedule at a busy venue like NJIT. Senior, Charlotte Lepis, will be a great asset to the team during the upcoming meets. She recently committed to swimming at Marist College, a Division 1 team. 

Both the girl’s and boy’s teams are historically competitive in their divisions. The girls have had a winning record every year within recent memory and hope to continue this streak. Senior Julia Duren-Lubanski is ready to win: “Coming out of a winning season my sophomore year and not having the opportunity to compete in states my junior year, I am elated for this season and the opportunity to defend our 2020 state title.”