ALL HANDS ON DECK: Members of the Hun School swimming team enjoy the moment after they defeated Hamilton West 99-71 last Saturday. The Raiders, now 1-1, swim at Blair Academy on January 10.

By Bill Alden

For Joan Nuse, the main focus in coaching the Hun School swimming program is more on development than the win-loss record.

“The main thing for all of our kids is just to watch them get better and work on improving,” said Hun head coach Nuse, whose coed team topped Hamilton West 99-71 last Saturday to improve 1-1.

In Nuse’s view, her swimmers work very well together. “For a second year in a row, we are very young and that makes it so they have a lot of good camaraderie,” said Nuse.

“They are very enthusiastic; it is fun to be dealing with all of them. The big thing is that these kids get along really, really well. I think it is because most of the kids are freshmen and sophomores.”

While the team only has a few club-level swimmers, they have made a big impact as competitors and mentors.

“The club kids are really good at trying to help out with the other kids; we have a couple of kids who used to swim in a swim club and they aren’t any more,” said Nuse.

“They are always at practice, so they are really helpful. If a kid comes in and doesn’t know how to do a flip turn or do a start, the other kids will really help them.”

While Hun opened the season by falling 60-33 to George School (Pa.) in December, Nuse was encouraged by the team’s performance.

“I was pretty pleased with how we did, we are a coed team and we have more girls than guys,” said Nuse.

“The fact that in order to beat us, George had to swim their boys was a good sign that we are pretty solid.”

Nuse has been getting solid efforts from her top girl swimmers, sophomore Abbie Danko, junior Emily Ryan, and sophomore Grace Davis. Danko took first in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle in the win over Hamilton, while Ryan won the 100 breaststroke and placed third in 100 butterfly, and Davis prevailed in the 200 free and second in the 100 free.

“They have their specialties but because they know what they need to do to help us, they will contribute and be really flexible to swim whatever we need which is great,” said Nuse.

“Abbie loves to swim other things but a lot of time, I will make her swim the 500 freestyle and the butterfly because there are only so many people I have who can do that, and that is a really hard combo to do. She does it without ever complaining. They are all like whatever you need us to do.”

As for the team’s boy swimmers, sophomore Josh Nguyen, senior Henry Claisse, and sophomore Andrew Petty have been leading the way. Nguyen won the 50 free and 100 backstroke against Hamilton while Claisse took second in the 200 IM and 100 breast and Petty placed third in the 500 free and fourth in the 100 fly.

“Josh is not a club swimmer, but he is a good swimmer for us. Henry Claisse is another one of our good swimmers; he used to be a club swimmer,” said Nuse.

“They are both great kids, both are super competitive. I know that if they go in, especially in a relay, and they are close, we have a really good chance to win. Andrew Petty is a club swimmer for us. He is good swimmer, he is really coming along.”

The positive environment around the team should help it excel when it culminates the season by competing in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) and state Prep A championships.

“It is great to aim for those last two meets, the MAPLs and the states,” said Nuse, whose team is next in action when it swims at the Blair Academy on January 10.

“One of the things that we try to do is to help them achieve the times that they would like to achieve at those big meets. Last year, our club kids were actually getting better times with us at those big meets than they got all season with their club teams. I think it is the team, that is a big factor.”

With 24 swimmers on the roster this winter, the foundation is in place for good times ahead.

“Most of them are back. There are a few that moved or who are no longer at the school,” said Nuse, noting that assistant coaches Carell Brown and Ken Riley have played a key role in creating the positive atmosphere around the team.

“We have so many back and we gained a few. Because the kids were telling their friends how much fun they were having, we had other kids come out and they decided to swim. They are not necessarily swimmers and they will get better.”