Due to the strength that wa lost in last year’s senior class and a couple of athletes that didn’t return this season, Head Coach Jackie Rank said this year is a rebuilding season for the boys? varsity swim & dive team.
‘I’m looking forward to the boys working hard to make improvements each day,? Rank said. ‘I’m also looking forward to rebuilding the depth and pitting ourselves against some of the best teams in Oakland County as well as competing in the Oakland County Meet.?
Out of 31 kids, 16 of are returnees from last year’s team. The most notable are seniors Erick Vandecar, Blake Hibdon, Marco Campagiorni; Juniors Chad Scribner, Cheyne Stresky and Jared Tasch; sophomores Sean Terry and Armando Vega.
‘They each have their own strengths from two phenomenal divers (Marco and Jared) to distance freestyle (Cheyne) to sprinters (Blake) to IM’ers and major stroke swimmers (Erick, Sean and Armando,? Rank said. ‘We have a new diver this year named Brandon Barrows. I also think that Jonah Grove and Mario Scribner show a lot of potential as new swimmers.?
Oxford’s strength is a ‘great team dynamic,? Rank said.
‘There doesn’t seem to be much drama,? she said. ‘And they seem to genuinely care about one another.?
While the league looks tough, Rank said the goal of the season is to get a couple of state cuts (meet harder time standards), now that they’ve been moved up to the OAA Red.
The boys kicked off their season Dec. 12 with a tough loss to Rochester Adams 130-56.
On Dec. 20, the boys defeated Stoney Creek in a very close meet 100-86, which brings Oxford’s record to 1-1.
‘Oxford won every event except for the 100 butterfly,? Ranks said. ‘But Stoney Creek had more depth to keep the meet exciting.?
‘We will now have a solid three weeks of training before we see West Bloomfield on Jan. 9 at Oxford’s pool,? noted Rank. The meet will start at 6 p.m.