Obama Academy swim team met with Shaler; showed promise in backstroke
“Shaler was a good host… we learned a lot,” said Obama Academy head coach Mark Rauterkus. “One person did well at our backstroke, some of the other kids learned they needed to practice more.” Rauterkus added that some of the Obama swimmers felt as if they were out of shape at this early point in the season.
“This is a time of year where the team is just getting to know each other and getting to know their coach,” Rauterkus said. This is his first year as head coach – prior to 2012-13 Rauterkus was the boys’ swim coach.
“I just learned the kids’ names,” he said. “If you’re a new coach you also don’t know how fast they swim. To top off the changes, the Obama Academy swim team is in its first WPIAL season after being in the City League.
The positive thing for Rauterkus and the Eagles is that the season will have a progression. After a brief period of having the team gain familiarity with practice and each other, the routine of away meets will be established. Rauterkus noted that for new swimmers, the process of figuring out where to go at meets can even be intimidating. He said that they sometimes say things like, “Oh my gosh, where am I swimming?”
Approximately 5 percent of Obama’s swimmers are year-round swimmers with clubs, so they will participate in the Pitt Christmas Invitational Dec. 13-Dec. 16. Even for those not swimming in the invitational, the holiday time is often one in which the athletes begin to break out.
“The holidays should show some really good practice times,” said Rauterkus.
Overall, the December progression should allow the Obama Academy swim team the perfect opportunities to be ready for Section 6-AA competition in January. In the meantime, the Eagles have scheduled a “winter carnival” with Ringgold. The Rams’ swim program is undergoing changes and building with the arrival of new coach and PE teacher Mr. McDonough. McDonough was formerly a teacher at Pittsburgh Obama. With Rauterkus, McDonough will host a modified swim meet and series of mini-water polo matches. The Obama/Ringgold swim event is scheduled for December 18.
“This is a time of year where the team is just getting to know each other and getting to know their coach,” Rauterkus said. This is his first year as head coach – prior to 2012-13 Rauterkus was the boys’ swim coach.
“I just learned the kids’ names,” he said. “If you’re a new coach you also don’t know how fast they swim. To top off the changes, the Obama Academy swim team is in its first WPIAL season after being in the City League.
The positive thing for Rauterkus and the Eagles is that the season will have a progression. After a brief period of having the team gain familiarity with practice and each other, the routine of away meets will be established. Rauterkus noted that for new swimmers, the process of figuring out where to go at meets can even be intimidating. He said that they sometimes say things like, “Oh my gosh, where am I swimming?”
Approximately 5 percent of Obama’s swimmers are year-round swimmers with clubs, so they will participate in the Pitt Christmas Invitational Dec. 13-Dec. 16. Even for those not swimming in the invitational, the holiday time is often one in which the athletes begin to break out.
“The holidays should show some really good practice times,” said Rauterkus.
Overall, the December progression should allow the Obama Academy swim team the perfect opportunities to be ready for Section 6-AA competition in January. In the meantime, the Eagles have scheduled a “winter carnival” with Ringgold. The Rams’ swim program is undergoing changes and building with the arrival of new coach and PE teacher Mr. McDonough. McDonough was formerly a teacher at Pittsburgh Obama. With Rauterkus, McDonough will host a modified swim meet and series of mini-water polo matches. The Obama/Ringgold swim event is scheduled for December 18.
swim