League/Schedule
The Portsmouth Abbey School Swimming Team competes in coed high school meets against local prep schools like St. Ge orge's, Worcester Academy, Thayer Academy, and Moses Brown. The girls compete in the EIL against Dana Hall, Winsor, Pingree, Landmark, and Berwick. The Abbey practices at nearby Roger Williams University. In addition, the girls swim in the Bay View Invitational, the boys swim in the EIL Invitational, and both boys and girls participate in the New England Prep Championships. In the 2010-2011 season, the boys placed first in the EIL Invitational, and the girls placed third in the EIL Championship.
The Coaching Staff
Robert Sahms: Head Varsity Swimming Coach
Coach Sahms was a competitive swimmer for 13 years and has been coaching swimming at Portsmouth Abbey for 28 years, during which his teams have notched over 160 wins. Mr. Sahms was an All-American swimmer in both high school and college. Mr. Sahms teaches Biology and Algebra and resides in Portsmouth with his wife, Christine.
Christine Sahms: Assistant Varsity Swimming Coach
In addition to coaching, Mrs. Sahms teaches Study Skills. Coach Sahms resides in Portsmouth with her husband, Robert.
Andrea Sahms: Assistant Varsity Swimming Coach
Coach Sahms swam competitively from age 6 through high school for the Newport YMCA and in high school for Portsmouth Abbey. Ms. Sahms earned a Varsity letter all four years competing for the Abbey. She was Captain of the Abbey team during Form VI, and she was named an Academic All-American swimmer. She coached the Abbey team during the 2006-07 season. Ms. Sahms is the Director of Community Groups and Compassion Ministries at Faith Alliance Church in Attleboro, MA.
Coaching Philosophy
Swimming is a very goal-oriented sport. Having fun is the number-one goal of the Swimming Program. Swimmers quickly learn that working hard can be fun and that hard work builds commraderie and a strong sense of team unity. Another goal is to swim fast. Swimmers are instructed that there are three things that determine how fast a person swims: stroke mechanics (technique); strength; and conditioning. Coaches teach proper technique daily and evaluate strength and conditioning in various ways throughout the season. The team members are encouraged to keep track of their times from meet to meet so they can set individual and team goals and monitor their progress. Sportsmanship and respect for coaches, officials, and opponents are also important characteristics of the Portsmouth Abbey Swimming Program. Swimmers are reminded that "You can't do better than your best" and "You can't do anything about what the other person is doing. You can only do something about yourself." These two life lessons that are taught through swimming typify the Abbey education that educates the whole person all of the time.
Recent graduates of the Portsmouth Abbey Swimming program who also swam in college include Lily Cavanagh '02, Bryan Flynn '00, and Elizabeth Hayes '99. Mike Reilly '07 is currently swimming for Redlands. Several past and present swimmers participated in the Save the Bay swim.
Contact:
Abbey Swimming is a great program for swimmers of all abilities. Experienced swimmers can improve on past performances, and everyone can learn swimming skills, can live sportsmanship, can gain conditioning, and can develop healthy life-long attitudes. For more information, please fill out our Student-Athlete Questionnaire.
