Piranhas prepare for start of swim season

The 60-degree temperatures and cloudy skies couldn’t dissuade the Plains Piranhas swim team from getting in the pool last Wednesday as they practiced for their first meet.

The team of about 17-plus swimmers is practicing for their first swim meet in the state’s Western Division at home June 21 here in Plains. The team ranges in ages all the way from 5 to 17 and is beginning to train for a season that will run until the early part of August.

Derek Danhof, co-coach of the Piranhas, said that the goal of the night was to help the team get ready for the hard training that’s going to come in the weeks to follow. “Swimming is a lot more physical than everything else, so you have to get them used to the water,” Danhof said.

The training session lasted for about an hour and a half and was primarily focused on technique and a series of short drills. However, the night ended with a 500-meter swim to give them a small taste of what’s on coming.

The hard training will come next week through what the team calls “the misery board,” a workout chart filled with exercises and drills that will push the team to competitive fitness. “Later on, we’ll start doing a lot more sprints. We’ll try to build up their speed and endurance at the same time,” Danhof said. He added that over the course of the season the team would do drills that move from two lengths of the pool to eight lengths.

Yet, while overall fitness is import to the team, the goal of the night was just to have fun. “I don’t feel that swimming should be a drag every time they come to practice, we want them to have fun. But while they’re having fun, we want them to work hard,” Danhof said. “We just want to see them improve.”

Amanda Hansen, the other swim coach, was working with the younger kids. She was focusing on proper crawl technique and breathing. “I tell them to keep their head in the water, even when you’re taking a breath,” Hansen said and explained that the less time they take for breathing, the faster they’ll go.

One of the best pieces of advice she likes to give her students is to be good observers. “I’ll tell them to watch people who have good form and to mimic them as best they can,” Hansen said. To help them with their form she would guide the smaller kids out in the water supporting them while they kicked or paddled.

Some of the fast swimmers that night were Danika Whitcomb, Laurel Danhof and Austin Campbell. This year the coaches expect them to improve a lot through practice.

Hansen said that Campbell participated in the 50-meter butterfly last year and was able to hone his form. “He’s a go-getter and like to try new things,” Hansen said.

Both of the coaches have a strong background in swimming and have been competitive since they were young. In fact, Danhof was a former Piranha himself and decided to coach after he graduated.

Hansen can remember swimming since she was eight and has been swimming competitively for 13 years. She’s even competed in the masters category in Detroit, Mich.

Hanson has coached a total of five years , two of which have been for the Plains Piranhas.

“I love the water and I love teaching,” Hansen said. “When I heard there was a position available to coach here in Plains I knew the job was right for me.”

While competing is important to Hansen and Danhof, they both agree in what they want at the end of the season. “I hope the kids will have had fun,” Hanson said. “We’ll be happy if we can teach them better form and keep them excited about swimming.”