League/Schedule
Portsmouth Abbey is a member of the Eastern Independent League (EIL). The EIL provides Portsmouth Abbey student-athletes the opportunity for rigorous competition with schools of similar size and athletic philosophy. EIL member schools include Bancroft School, Beaver Country Day, Berwick Academy, Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall, Concord Academy, Dana Hall School, Landmark School, Lexington Christian, Newton Country Day, Pingree School and Winsor School. The Portsmouth Abbey School Swimming Team also competes in high school meets against local prep schools like St. George's, Worcester Academy, Thayer Academy, and Moses Brown. The Abbey practices at the brand new aquatics center at Roger Williams University and this is the site for home meets. In addition to the girls swimming in the Bay View Invitational, both boys and girls participate in the New England Prep Championships. Throughout the season, the team participates in coed meets, as well as separate meets for both boys and girls. In the 2007-2008 season, the team finished with a record of 9-8-1, while the girls finished 4-4 in the EIL, and placed third in the EIL Championship.
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.
Swimming after Portsmouth
Recent graduates of the Portsmouth Abbey Swimming Program who also swam in college include Lily Cavanagh '02 (Dickinson college), Bryan Flynn '00 (Providence College), Elizabeth Hayes '99 (Gettysburg College), and Mike Reilly '07, currently swimming for the University of Redlands.
Several past and present Abbey swimmers have 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, live sportsmanship, gain conditioning, and develop healthy life-long attitudes. Please contact Coach Sahms or the Portsmouth Abbey School Admissions Office for further information about our swimming program.
