As the Menlo swim team dives into this season, the burgeoning 40-person group seeks to break school records under new leadership and new swimmers. 

The transition to the new season won’t be easy; with the departure of two pivotal seniors graduating last year, the team has undergone a host of changes over the past year. Eden Chuang and Sofia Flierl, who both graduated last spring, set a high bar for the team, placing in the top five division for the 200-yard relay last season. 

Junior Riko Karachiwala hopes to continue the success the team had last season and is not very worried about new changes. Seeing as the team has grown since last season, she aims to build community within the roster. 

“It will be very different without Sofia and Eden,” Karachiwala said. “The incoming freshmen, all of the club swimmers, are going to really help our relays, which we need.”

The influx of talent in the pool isn’t the only addition to the team; after four seasons of coaching both the boys and girls programs, former head coach Simon Cassidy has stepped back, and Menlo hired Jamie Frank from Sacred Heart Prep as the team’s new head coach, along with Program Director of Girls’ Water Polo. “Menlo has a really great tradition of aquatics, and being able to step into a program that’s already well established is a really fun and exciting thing to do,” Frank said. 

Frank has high hopes for the team this season, and the swimmers recognize the positive energy he brings to the pool. “I feel like [this season] will be really good, and Coach Jamie has a lot of experience,” Karachiwala said. “He’s really good for the program.” 

Frank aims to build off the success that the swim program has had in the past years. “The goals for this season are to continue on the path that’s been laid by the coaches before me,” Frank said. 

Frank also wants to create a fostering environment in the tight-knit team. “[I want] to promote an atmosphere that’s joyous and exciting, with a strong team camaraderie,” he said.