The past two years, Amanda Allison and her fellow Brandon Swim Club members have waited for the day they would be recognized as a varsity sport.
That day has come.
The Brandon Board of Education, at its April 19 meeting, approved swimming as a varsity sport at Brandon High School beginning with the 2004-05 school year. Girls swimming will be held as a fall sport, while boys swimming will compete as a winter sport.
Allison, 16, a junior at BHS, said she called Kathy Sowa, mother of BHS freshman Ally Sowa (also a swim club member), after the school board meeting that night.
‘I was really excited,? she said. ‘I’m looking forward to it because we really wanted it for a long time. It’s awesome.?
Pam Delandsheer, whose son Tyson, is a BHS sophomore and has been in the swim club for two years, is happy to see the club’s efforts to become a varsity sport come to fruition.
‘These kids have really worked hard,? she said. ‘They’ve turned themselves into great swimmers in a short period of time. My son just loves it ? he thinks it’s the greatest thing in the world.?
The Brandon Swim Club has been in existence for two years, and has used the BHS swimming pool as their home base. Todd Duncan, a ninth grade history teacher at BHS, has coached the team for the past two years.
‘He’s very qualified,? Delandsheer said. ‘He comes from Oakland University and was the captain there.?
Allison said the Brandon club, which was a coed club, competed in the winter against other schools, which fielded all-boys teams. Despite that, she said the Brandon squad held their own.
Brandon Athletic Director Larry Lamphere said he is currently writing job descriptions for both the boys and girls coaching positions, and expects to have the job posted this week.
Lamphere also said he believes Duncan is interested in the coaching positions.
If Allison has her way, Duncan will land both jobs. ‘We all love Mr. Duncan,? she said. ‘He’s a great coach. He will swim workouts with us and always gives us a list of things to improve upon.?
The students? two-year wait to become a varsity sport is standard procedure, Brandon school board president Beth Nuccio said.
‘Basically, it amounts to a trial run where there has to be a continued interest in the sport,? she said.
With about 50 boys and girls in the swim club, the Blackhawks competed in interscholastic competitions this year, although they could not earn a varsity letter.
However, the interest was sufficient enough that the club petitioned the board’s athletics committee, which consists of Nuccio and trustees Mark Mahaffy and Chris Yuchasz, for the club to become a varsity sport.
However, budget cuts statewide have forced school districts to cut back on programs. Delandsheer and the parents of the club’s swimmers were concerned about where the funding for the sport would come from.
So, they followed a time-honored axiom: If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
‘We signed a petition saying we would fund the program,? she said. ‘We don’t know what the cost per student will be, but we plan on doing some fundraisers. Everybody’s been very supportive. I think we’ll be doing fine with the funding ? all the parents are very excited. I don’t think we’ll have a problem.?
It won’t be cheap for students to compete on the team. Nuccio said the estimated cost to maintain the sport is about $400-600 per student, which includes transportation, swimsuits, and warmup gear.
The exact figure depends on how many students take part in the sport, Nuccio said.
However, she also said if parents are willing to foot the bill for their students to participate, then they should get their shot as a varsity sport.
Allison said since she runs on the cross-country team in the fall, she and a couple other girls plan to compete with the boys team, which is allowed under Michigan High School Athletic Association rules. She said the only restriction is the girls can’t compete in the boys? state meet, even if they have the necessary qualifying times.
Nuccio stressed the swim team will not take away members from other teams, as the students in the swim club did not participate in other sports while the club was competing in different meets.
‘This gives these students the same opportunities we give other athletes,? Nuccio said.
If a local business is interested in helping fund the team, contact Allison at 248-627-3940.