Lions take care of business Swimmers say improved, team-first approach is working

By John RiehlThe Gazette john.riehl@gazettecommunications.comMARION - The old regime is out and a new theme is in place with the Linn-Mar boys' swimming team.A whole new breed of swimmer makes up this season's squad."Last year we had some seniors who were left over from the years before and there were a lot of bad habits," junior Alex Starr said. "This year we're trying to break those habits. It was motivation, behavior and a lack of dedication (last season)."The season would be successful if we can become a single team and eliminate some of the animosity between members."Those bad habits didn't translate into state meet success last season. The Lions had a few qualifiers, but didn't score any team points.Linn-Mar is saying enough is enough.Senior freestyler Bryce Engelbart is in his fourth year of driving from Anamosa to Marion to swim for Linn-Mar, and he has noticed a change in how he and his teammates are going about their business."Years past we weren't quite on focus," Engelbart said. "This year we are and our times show it. The first meet I beat all my personal bests from last year. It's just a lot of hard work and dedication in the off-season."We are more mature than we have been in four years."Linn-Mar Coach Ralph Cortez has noticed a change in his swimmers' approach to the season."Now, they know what they need to look at for those three months," Cortez said. "They can come in and do their job and have fun and be successful."The Lions are tired of finishing last in meets. On Dec. 6, they finished fifth out of six teams at the J-Hawk Relays, beating Dubuque Hempstead.Linn-Mar realizes it can't climb the team standings board swimming solo.This new breed of competitor is taking an all-for-one and one-for-all approach, which is evident by watching a team practice."Everyone is practicing and no one is sitting out because they don't feel like doing the workout," junior Nathan Sippy said. "Everyone is pumping each other up and encouraging everyone."The impact of this unity remains to be seen on the big stage - the Mississippi Valley Conference, district and state meets - but the true measure of the Lions' success won't show up on the results sheet."It's just having fun and knowing that you gave everything you could," Sippy said.Contact the writer: (319) 339-3177 or john.riehl@gazcomm.com