Swim Team Sets Sights on States

River Dell’s swim team is diving into the new season with confidence, backed by strong performances from last year and a focused training routine.

Last year, the boys’ team impressed with a standout record, finishing near the top of their division and proving themselves as one of the strongest contenders in the area, while the girls’ team also had a successful run, landing in the upper half of their division standings.

Both groups earned spots in the postseason tournament, showcasing their depth and determination. The girls narrowly missed advancing after a tight match against Livingston, while the boys pulled off a close win against the same opponent before being eliminated in the next round.

These experiences have fueled even higher goals this season, as both teams are determined to once again earn their place in the state tournament. “We expect both teams to be very competitive in our league, and we always set a goal to qualify for the state tournament,” said Coach Armen.

Preparation is key to their success. A typical practice begins with warm-ups to loosen up and build endurance. This is followed by focused drills that sharpen technique, working on perfecting strokes, turns, and tightening finishes.

“I think our team is going to do really well this year because we have a lot of new teammates to help us win,” said Avery Schrader, an RD sophomore.

After this, swimmers move into structured sets that often start with longer, steady-distance swims before shifting toward shorter, faster sprint efforts. Practices frequently wrap up with starts and turn work, helping swimmers gain speed and efficiency from the blocks and walls.

“When we compare swimmers’ times from the beginning of the season to the end of the season, there is concrete proof of improvement. We also see some swimmers able to finish tougher events like the 500 free and 200 individual medley toward the middle and end of the year that they could not finish when they started,” said Coach Armen.

The excitement is building as the season approaches. The Hawks’ first meet is on December 6 against Fair Lawn, followed by matchups with Wayne Valley on December 9, Pascack Valley on December 13, and Mahwah on December 20.