For Lenape High School’s boys swim team head coach Andre Lopez, it takes more than just a fast time in the pool to be a part of the squad.
Being a team player is of the utmost importance.
The team’s season kicked off earlier this month with wins over Sterling High School and Haddon Heights High School 117–53 and 123–47, respectively. Strong seasons have become the norm for the Indians in recent years.
“The Lenape boys have gotten really good,” Lopez said. “We’re in the top division right now.”
During practices at Burlington County Special Services in nearby Lumberton, the team is divided into two sections due to the pool size.
Swimmers start with a 4–3–2–1 warm up to ready their muscles before moving into several sets to focus on different parts of the sport, such as endurance and stroke efficiency.
“A lot of people who try out for the team think, ‘I can swim fast in my backyard pool,’” Lopez said.
In reality, once swimmers reach the 25-foot pool with 1,000 yards of warm ups, the sport begins to look much more intense, Lopez said.
“It’s a very technical sport,” Lopez said. “With the way a swimmer begins or ends his lap possibly making the difference between a win or a loss.”
His preseason evaluation of his team left Lopez feeling confident.
“Once again, we have picked up several talented young swimmers to add to our growing depth. We look to another strong year with a renewed sense of dedication and commitment to success, both personal and team.
Those have been the building blocks of our program over the past few years of my tenure as head coach,” Lopez said. “With our returning veterans, we are setting our sights this year on another winning record and returning to the NJ Team State Championships. We look to be a force in the Pacific Division this year.”
When swimmers arrive at practice, they know what lane they are in and whom they swim with best, Lopez said. Moving up a lane is a big accomplishment. To improve, the answer is simple. It’s all about practice.
“Practice. It really all does come down to practice,” Lopez said.
Lopez has had the support of his wife, Heather, through his six years as coach.
Heather Lopez is the Lenape varsity girls swim team coach.
“It’s pretty exciting. We see a lot of each other,” Lopez said.
Most swim teams finish their seasons in early February. The state tournaments for teams that qualify run from mid to late February, with individual states taking place in late February through early March. Lopez is optimistic about his team’s ability to be there at the end.
“They’re driven, passionate about what they do,” Lopez said. “This is a team in every sense of the word. It’s all about the team.”
