Claire Fahy
Reporter

The Cubs swim team have started out strong with a win over the Athenian School, notable performances in a recent loss against Mercy Burlingame and a close, 4-point victory over University High School, boosting the Cubs’ record to 2-1.

“All the teams in the league are pretty competitive, so it’s [difficult] to say who will be the toughest [competition],” said coach Anna Tarka.

The swim team, which practices alongside SHHS, trains four days a week at Hamilton pool. For the first two weeks of practice, the team worked with dryland in the gym. Land conditioning consists of running and circuit exercises to improve a swimmer’s core and aerobic complex for when they take to the pool.

“My goal for the season is to develop the swim team and improve swimming technique, endurance, and to build the level of competition for our swim team,” said Tarka.

This is Tarka’s first year coaching the Cubs, previously coaching an all-ages recreational team of 200 swimmers for the past three years and coaching at the high school level in Fresno five years ago.

“Convent was a great opportunity to switch back from [recreational] swimming to the high school level and allowed me to focus more on one age group of swimming,” said Tarka, who said she loves watching the girls succeed after they put in the effort.

“I like how our coach believes in us, even if she places us in a [difficult] heat,” said freshman Cate Svendsen.

The team also helps motivate each other, according to freshman Annie Mitchell.

“The meets are stressful,” she says, “but the team is always there to cheer me on and encourage me.”

Upcoming meets include match-ups against Marin Academy, International High School, and Lick Wilmerding, all strong contenders in the Bay Area Counties league.

The swim team’s next race is a tri-meet at Marin Academy on April 15, where it faces off against both Marin Academy and International High School. After that meet, only one regular-season dual meet remains before the league championship on May 8.