Northville High Girls Swim Team Separates into A, B Teams to Accommodate All

Unlike a majority of the other sports offered at the high school level, there is officially only one girls swim team at Northville High School (NHS). Once again, it will be organized into an A and B team this upcoming season.

Head Coach Brian McNeff, who will be starting his seventh year at NHS this fall, said, “The A team is for more experienced swimmers, and the B team is for more inexperienced swimmers.  Both teams compete together at most meets.”

While swimmers on the A team are expected to start a new season already in shape with a regular practice schedule, those on the B team begin the season at a slower pace, focusing more on technique work and drills.

“This gives everyone who tries it a chance to be a part of the team.  Swimming is an individual sport, so you can always see your own improvement.  This allows any swimmer to set individual goals and work towards those goals,” McNeff said.

Although there aren’t any tryouts for this sport, McNeff expects there will be between 65 to 70 swimmers representing NHS this year. 

“We have already done some team activities, and this is around the number of swimmers that have showed up for these events,” said McNeff.

The girls swim team will continue practicing in the morning Monday through Saturday until Aug. 31, in preparation for the first invitational meet of the season on Aug. 29 at Ann Arbor Huron High School. 

During the school year, the A team will practice Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The B Team will follow a similar schedule, practicing Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday from 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

McNeff will be working with assistant coaches Rich Bennetts and Leah Erlandson, along with diving coach Jennifer Amman, to incorporate yoga into the swim team’s training this year.

In addition to this yoga program, the first ever alumni swim meet is scheduled to take place on Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. as well.  Open to all NHS swim alumni, the warm up for the meet will began at 10 a.m. 

If interested in participating in this alumni meet, contact Brian McNeff at mcneff00@yahoo.com for more information.