Warriors find new swim coach

June 15, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/Frontiersman

WASILLA - Wasilla High School's search for a new swim coach is over.

After spending nearly a year trying to find a replacement for Bobbie Hamilton - who left after last season - the school announced Monday that Caryn Reid will take the helm this fall.

Reid recently graduated from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill. and landed a teaching job at Shaw Elementary. A competitive swimmer since she was five years old, Reid said Wednesday that she had a strong desire to continue in the sport.

&#8220It's something I've always wanted to do,” she said.

In addition to being a competitive swimmer (she specialized in the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke in college), Reid also has coached youth swimmers in the past. She said the challenge of taking over a high school program is something she's looking forward to with great anticipation.

&#8220I am just thrilled,” she said.

Wasilla assistant principal Dan Michael said Wednesday that Reid impressed the interview committee, which included two current members of the swimming and diving team. The endorsement Reid got from the students was a big factor in the final choice.

&#8220We always try to put kids on the list,” he said. &#8220They really liked her a lot.”

Reid, 22, is a native of LaGrange, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. At Shaw, she'll be working with students who have hearing difficulties. She said that in addition to swimming, she enjoys outdoor activities and said she's excited about the prospect of living in Alaska.

&#8220It's very different, but I love it,” she said. &#8220The scenery is just amazing.”

As a coach, Reid said her basic philosophy is that she expects her athletes to put forward as much effort as she does toward building a successful program.

&#8220I'm putting forward my effort, and I just expect their effort in return,” she said.

Reid said she's pretty laid back, but isn't afraid to lay down the law, either.

&#8220I feel that, when necessary, you need to be more of a hard-nosed coach,” she said.

The Warriors have traditionally fielded one of the top swim teams in the Valley. At last year's state meet, Wasilla's boys finished seventh overall while the girls were 12th. Both finishes were the best among Mat-Su schools.

Michael said that he believes the upcoming season, which begins Aug. 4, is again looking promising for the Warriors.

&#8220The kids that we have in the program are really competitive,” he said.Michael said he's happy to have finally found someone willing to put in the long hours needed to coach swimming. He said the search wasn't easy.

&#8220It took a long time,” he said.

With Reid, however, he thinks the Warriors have finally found a perfect fit for the school's program.

&#8220We're excited.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com