Beacon begins with top-notch coach, pool

Arlington squad benefited from Collins' leadership

By Peter R. Palmieri
For the Poughkeepsie Journal

Larry Collins has been in the position of building a new swimming program before and he has been quite successful. But, when Beacon High School begins its inaugural girls swimming campaign this fall, the experience will be very different for the head coach.

In 1998, Collins was the head coach of the first girls swim team at Freedom Plains-based Arlington. The team lost all of its meets in its first full season, but a year later, Collins turned the team around as it went 7-6. The team went 13-1 in 2000.

Although Beacon will be in a similar situation as Arlington was in 1998, the two teams are completely different.

One of the main differences is that Beacon will begin its new program in its own backyard. While the students are moving into classrooms in a new building, the swimmers will be moving into their very own pool facility on school grounds.

The decision by the Beacon school district to build the brand new high school with the pool facility was the driving force behind starting the new program, according to Beacon athletic director Eric Romanino.

Being the only high school in Dutchess County with a pool will be a great advantage to the rookie team, according to Collins.

''The pool is going to be a big advantage to us,'' Romanino said. ''Our kids will be able to swim at our own facility, unlike many of the other schools. Over the next two years, the physical education program and the elementary and middle school programs will help promote the sport.''

Coach in familiar position

Another advantage for Beacon is the fact that Collins has gone through putting together a new team before.

''It helps me out tremendously,'' Collins said of his prior experience. ''It's nice because I will have a chance to follow up on a lot of things that I did at Arlington.''

However, not every difference is a positive for Beacon. As opposed to Arlington, a team that had swimmers with prior swim club experience, Beacon will only have a handful of girls that have competed prior to this season.

Because of the lack of experience, Collins has expectations for the team that have little to do with winning.

''My expectation is if we can squeeze out one or two wins, that will go a long way,'' he said. ''My main goal this year is to introduce them all to competitive strokes and to all the events. The most challenging thing is to get them to not be afraid of their competitors and to understand that we're growing and learning.''

Romanino is not overly concerned with winning this season, but rather getting the program off to a positive start.

''I want to see participation as number one and I want to see the kids having fun,'' he said. ''I want to see the development of swim skills over the next couple of years. By doing those things, the program will develop.''

As is the case for most first year teams, don't expect Beacon to be a powerhouse this fall, but it will use this first season to set the ground-work for future success.

''I like the idea of being part of something that is brand new,'' Collins said. ''There is no history here. Whatever they create will be brand new. Hopefully we will have a chance to create a winning tradition.''