Oxford High School has a new head coach for its upcoming Boys Swim and Dive team, and it’s a familiar face.
Jackie Boswell, head coach of the girl Wildcat swimmers, will be wearing another hat at the school as she assumes the additional coaching duties.
‘I was asked a while ago about the boys? team, if I’d be willing to coach it if they had it,? Boswell said. ‘A few weeks ago, they asked me again.?
While the coach described it as a hard decision since it means stepping dwon from coaching the Oakland Life Y’ers (a swim team consisting of more than 200 athletes) to assume the additional duties, she thinks it was the right one. She spoke to the OLY officials, and they told her it was her decision.
‘I know the boys here and have had many of them as students,? said Boswell, who teaches math at OHS.’Logistically and money-wise, it made more sense to coach both teams here.?
Coaching OLY meant having to travel down to Rochester; now, her travel time will be much shorter. Plus, since Boswell is also working on her master’s degree, this will free up time for her.
For the coach, this new job is a visit into uncharted water.
‘I’m looking forward to coaching the boys and seeing what that’s like,? she said. ‘I’ve never done anything like this before.?
This will be the beginning of the boys swim/dive, and it looks to be a building process. Boswell said she plans to teach the basics of swimming along with stroke technique and then conditioning.
The boys? swim and dive season begins on January 6, and their first day of practice will be Dec. 1, according to OHS Athletic Director Pat Ball.
?[Boswell’s] expertise in swimming and knowledge of the sport are very good,? Ball said. ‘We think she’ll be able to communicate with the kids.?
So far, Ball is very pleased with what he sees of Boswell, who’s in her second year as girls aquatic coach.
‘She’s done very well as girls coach, and I’d expect nothing less as boys coach,? he said.