By Jeff Appelblatt
Freehold Township High School’s swim coach, Brittany Bott, has been a swimmer longer than any of her student-athletes have been alive. Once a couple of practices were in the books, Bott had both the boys’ and girls’ squads knowing how competitive she really was.
“I might be the only head coach in the district that swam competitively. I’m [still] pretty competitive, and my kids know that,” Bott said. “I’ve been swimming competitively since I was 6, and now I still swim when I can.”
The coach admits, though, it’s easier for her to hold high expectations for the girls’ team. Last year, the girls won nine of the 11 meets they participated in, and many swimmers from that team are back this year, starting with Molly Griswold, who Bott anticipates big things from.
“I am hoping that Molly Griswold makes a splash at the Monmouth County Championship in January,” the coach said about one of her most seasoned swimmers.
For the Patriots to contend leading up to that, the team’s coach knows other athletes will need to contend, too. So far this season, following the team’s first few meets, Bott has been impressed by the swimming of a number of her girls.
“Other swimmers who I have been impressed with this year are Kathryn Arway, Erianna Nguyen, Stasia Nguyen, Maddie Byrne and Samantha Cheng,” Freehold Township’s coach said following wins over Jackson Memorial High School and Manalapan High School, before adding that even some of the youngest girls have been real good. “Some of my freshmen have really stepped up to the plate, or in our case, the block. There are so many outstanding athletes on the team.
“This year has been a good start for the girls. And [it’s been] a challenging one for the boys.”
The Patriots’ coach knows the boys’ team is a work in progress.
While the girls took care of Jackson Memorial and Manalapan, 93-77 and 103-67, respectively, the boys from the same schools sunk Freehold Township, 120-40 and 90-76.
Nonetheless, Bott was happy the boys tried their best despite the final numbers.
“The boys really put in their best effort against Manalapan. But due to lack in numbers, it was a tough loss,” she said two days after the Dec. 8 meet. “We have 12 boys on the team, but only 10 were able to participate.”
The next competition for Freehold Township’s swimmers will be with Colts Neck High School Dec. 14 at 2:30 p.m. in Colts Necks. The male Cougars (1-1) are coming off a win against Freehold High School, 99-68, after a loss to Jackson Memorial, 105-65. Their female counterparts (0-1) also lost to Jackson Memorial, 93.5-76.5.
But Bott will ignore the 0-1 record of the girls from Colts Neck. She expects that team to contend with her own.
“We are hoping to take the A North title, but sometimes teams will surprise you,” Freehold Township’s coach said. “I think [our] toughest meet will be against Colts Neck.”
Clearly Bott believes the female Cougars have a chip on their shoulders. The last time the teams faced off Jan. 12, the Cougars went to the Patriots’ home pool at the YMCA of Western Monmouth County and got out of the water after a 119-51 blowout.
No matter the team, no matter the sport, no coach wants his or club to look past any opponent.
