Over the last few seasons, the Beaver Dam High School girls swim team has undergone several changes.
The team needed a new coach and needed to recruit more swimmers to the team to compete. After a bridge season coached by Carmen Scott kept the team afloat, the Beaver Dam athletic department hired Kristen DeMaster to coach the girl’s swim team.
Beaver Dam is now the host of a co-op for girls swimming between Waupun School District, Randolph School District and Wayland Academy. Currently the team is made up of 12 swimmers from Beaver Dam and Wayland Academy along with a team manager from Wayland Academy.
“One of the focuses right now is making sure that all the girls feel like they belong, it doesn’t matter where they go to school.” DeMaster continued, “We are all the same team.”
DeMaster is extremely proud of how far the program has come in just a few years. Several swimmers have set new personal records in the 2023 season as well as the team having grown enough to now participate in all the events at a given meet.
As for a way to keep growing and improving the team, DeMaster says that for the current state of the program, it’s important to spread awareness of the team as they continue to cultivate a welcoming culture.
DeMaster tells her swimmers every day, “Have fun, do your best, and be you.”
Listen to the full interview below for more from coach Kristen DeMaster.
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