Season Preview: Inaugural Women’s Swim Season

The much-anticipated inaugural Swim season at Miramar is finally here, and Head Coach Lucy Gates is ready to make a splash. With a combination of experienced coaching, a strong foundation, and an excited group of student-athletes, the stage is set for a promising start to the Jets' aquatics program.

Setting the Stage for Success

"Our inaugural Swim season is set up for nothing short of success," "We have four outstanding coaches on staff, including two new assistant coaches who both swam competitively at the NCAA level and bring valuable athletic and coaching experience to the program. Additionally, our beautiful on-campus aquatic facility has the capacity to support and grow a strong, sustainable Swim program."

This season, Miramar boasts a solid roster, including student-athletes transitioning from the Women's Water Polo team and others with varying levels of swim experience. "The focus for this year is on having fun and getting a little faster each day. From there, we can build a competitive and welcoming culture that prospective recruits are excited to be a part of."

The Dawn of a New Era at Miramar

"The new era of aquatics at Miramar looks very promising," "We have strong leadership within our department, dedicated to supporting both our coaches and student-athletes, along with an athletic staff who work together to help our student-athletes succeed and have an outstanding athletic experience. We are looking forward to developing a reputation for our aquatics program that's recognized not only within the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference but also across the 3C2A."

Closing the Gap with the Top Teams

Miramar has its eyes on the competition, including Santa Barbara Community College, the 2024 Women's Swim State Champions and Miramar's friendly water polo rivals. "After speaking with their coach, it became clear that a major factor in their success was that the entire water polo team competed on the swim team," "Developing an aquatics program at Miramar where Water Polo and Swim work together symbiotically will gradually reduce the gap between us and the top teams, allowing both programs to grow in tandem."

Aiming High in Year One

"I'm incredibly excited about this team and what we can accomplish in this first season," "With our solid roster size and the natural speed and talent of this first-year squad, I believe a shot at a conference title and some swimmers making it to the state playoffs is certainly possible. That will be a byproduct of us having fun and getting a little faster each day."

Excitement for the Inaugural Roster

With no returners on the inaugural roster, Gates is excited about the newcomers and their potential. "For many of our newcomers, this is their first-ever experience on a competitive swim team," she said. "I'm incredibly excited to watch their progress from the start of the season to the end and help them tap into their potential in the water. Many of them will accomplish things they wouldn't have thought possible at the start, and I can't wait."

Lessons Learned and New Approaches

Building on lessons learned from water polo, "I want to ensure that everyone is set up for success in the classroom and has the support they need by connecting them with resources like tutoring, study hall, our athletic counselor, the transfer and career centers, health services, mental health counseling, and our food pantry," she said. "Our ultimate goal will be to help them stay on track to continue their education and careers after their time at Miramar."

A Message for Our Fans

"I would say to cheer extra loud, since the water sloshing into the pool gutters and the water trapped in the swimmers' ears can sometimes make it harder for them to hear you," "But when they know they have people there supporting them and cheering them on, they're sure to swim fast."

The Jets are ready to dive into a new chapter of Miramar athletics. Fans can expect an exciting and energetic debut season, full of growth and Jets spirit.