Montrose, NY – The Croton-Hen Hud-Haldane swim team is making waves once more in the 2023 fall season. Coach Lauren Siegel, a fifth-grade teacher at Furnace Woods Elementary School, returned to lead the team and Juliet Soriceli, a general music teacher at B-V Elementary School coached alongside Siegel for the first time.
“I have met so many new people and have made so many memories on the team. Everyone has been so welcoming,” states Eloise Pearshall, a Haldane swimmer. Hen Hud swim has merged with various teams over the years, from Croton-Harmon to Yorktown and Somers.
Pre-season begins with 8 a.m. swim practices in the icy cold pool at Charles J. Cook Park. Swimmers arrive half asleep, in their suits, all wishing to be back asleep. For about 1-2 hours, swimmers switch between styles of strokes such as free, back, breast, and the dreaded butterfly. This routine repeats for two weeks as swimmers prepare for the 2023 fall swim season.
Cro-Hud-Haldane took on teams from Section One League Three and ended up with four wins out of eight swim meets, a personal best for the team.
Swimmers go back and forth between school, competitions, or practice at Mildred Strang E. Middle School in Yorktown. With fully packed school buses, usually accompanied by the emotional turmoil each member expresses through song.
Weekly and bi-weekly team bonding events play a key role in the team’s success, as it is essential to develop close relationships. A stronger-knit group generates grandeur team spirit at competitions. From apple picking to more cozy events like movie nights, swimmers form friendships and further the team’s cooperative and supportive environment.
At the end of the season, Cro-Hud-Haldane seniors are faced with their last day of competing at their home pool. It also serves as a night of staff appreciation. This day holds a bittersweet celebration where seniors are sent off as high school graduate swimmers to face the real world as adults. This year, Cro-Hud-Haldane faced Wappinger Central and won 52 to 43. Underclassmen are required to make speeches to their fellow seniors.
On Saturday, October 21, 2023, the team placed 5th at divisionals and 17th at sectionals, another personal best. “We are so proud of all of your hard work throughout the season,” shares Coach Laurel Siegel.
