CHS swim team dives into season with new coach

Rowan Young

More stories from Rowan Young

Christina Cook
May 11, 2017
CHS+swim+team+dives+into+season+with+new+coach

A head coaching change for the Carlisle High School swim team could lead to continued success for the swimmers. Ann Berg has taken the place of Jason Griffith as the head coach for the Thundering Herd swim team.

Coach Berg started coaching in 1996 in North Carolina and has coached off and on since then. Recently she has come from Germany, where she coached two swim teams.

Berg says that the boy and the girl’s team is smaller than last year but there are several returning athletes who have potential for post-season qualifications. Some of these athletes include Noah Chirico, Daniel Madio and Max Fiorentino for the guys and Elizabeth Young, Amanda Shoemaker, Caroline Hoffman, Sarah Thompson, Ellie Tate, and Caitlyn Padgett for the girls. Some freshmen that are standing out are Maddison Young, Grace Lippert, and CJ Berg.

Regarding the upcoming season Berg said, “After 7 weeks of preparation, I am very much looking forward to seeing our swimmers and divers in action.”

Hershey, CV, and State College are going to put up some tough competition for the Thundering Herd, but Berg isn’t worried.

“By swimming against fast teams, it only makes you faster,” said Berg. “There will be many tough races, and we plan to win our share.”

Berg would like to thank Griffith for helping her transition into the coaching position. She says, “It has been an easy transition because Mr. Griffith has provided me with a large amount of historical knowledge and has made connections to many helpful people in the Carlisle community.”

Going into the final meet of the last season, both teams were 7-7. In the end, both teams won the meet and ended the season with an 8-7 record.

Griffith reflected on the last meet of the season, saying, “When they threw me in the pool at the end of the meet (a swimming tradition), I knew we had earned it as a team. Everyone contributed.”

Griffith is sad to leave the team and leaves with this final thought: “I was happy to have been able to serve a team that I love, and I wish nothing but the best for all the swimmers and for Coach Berg. I look forward to seeing everyone continue to improve. As always, Go Herd!”

The swim team’s first home meet is at the Kline Center at Dickinson College on Thursday, December 11 at 7 pm.