Mundelein has three new boys swim coaches entering the program this year. New varsity swim coach Jacob Gonzalez is ecstatic to face the challenge of being a first year varsity head coach. Gonzalez is honored to get this chance. In the past, he coached the Lake Forest club team working with all different age groups
“The mentality of coaching is really important,” Gonzalez said. “My approach to coaching for this new team is seeing what they’re capable of. Making sure that the swimmers are able to reach their personal goals and all together be able to reach their team goals. Also to make sure that the team is excited and pumped up to swim this season and come to each practice and meet with positive energy.”
Gonzalez tries to focus on technique, sprints and pace work in practices while trying to hit all the fundamentals as well. Gonzalez chose Mundelein as he wanted to support the program that he swam for himself and see the team experience success. He has always wanted the opportunity to coach the swim team and since playing for Mundelein this was an easy choice for him.
Gonzalez has goals in mind to help this program experience max success. “My plan is to grow the swim team by showing what this group of boys are capable of. Providing a great deal of team building activities and showing that the boys have a strong bond not just in the pool but out of the pool as well. This year is going to be a hoot and a holler! I am very pumped up for the boys this year to work hard and do outstanding things,” Gonzalez said.
New JV coach Caileigh McCafferty is also excited to coach a high school team and hopes to give them the most success possible. McCafferty has been swimming since age 7 and even went to state with her own team in high school. Later, she was a part of the girls national team. McCafferty hopes to work on making the everyone all-around swimmers throughout the season with the best coaching possible.
Technique is a big part of McCafferty’s belief as she believes repetition is important for constant improvement. McCafferty wants to take the next steps in the program which is why she decided to choose JV. “My biggest hope to improve this team is not only in their athletic ability but in their confidence. I will work on this with each individual athlete focusing.”
She added, “For this year, I expect individuals to be the best version of themselves they can be. This means putting forward their best effort in and out of the pool to be successful student athletes. As a team, I will hold them to the expectation of respect and accountability for themselves and their teammates. Although some swims may be of individual performance, this is a team sport and team effort,” said McCafferty.
Senior and Varsity swim team player Xavier Hilgart said that the coaches are “all adapting well to the new environment and doing the right things to help us succeed.”
