Hahn hoping to be surprised

Emily Munn is one of nine WaveRunners that will compete in the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association state swim meet in Scottsboro Friday and Saturday.

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Published: July 23, 2008

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WaveRunners head coach Jamie Hahn has learned not to be surprised.

In just three meets this season, the first-year head coach has seen his swimmers continually shatter their personal-best times, some by more than a full second.

Not only is Hahn not surprised, he’s almost come to expect new marks to be set whenever the WaveRunners hit the pool.

“I’ve come to expect to be surprised by (new) personal-best times and form improvement,” Hahn said.

Hahn is hoping to see a slew of new personal-best times Friday and Saturday when the WaveRunners compete in the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association state swim meet in Scottsboro.

Hahn doesn’t believe the added pressure of competing for a state championship should be a factor in his team’s performance.

“We’re going to treat it like any normal meet,” Hahn said. “There should not be any (extra) nerves for this meet. … Most of the team (that will be competing at the state meet) is USA-S registered, so this is not much different from those large-scale meets.”

Like their previous three meets this season, the WaveRunners will focus more on technique than where they finish in the race.

“Our goal is still technique,” Hahn said. “Placing (in a race) is great and the swimmers always want to do that, but that is not our main focus.”

Win or lose, Hahn believes the opportunity to compete at the state meet will benefit the team down the road.

“I think getting this experience for the younger swimmers is a success (in itself),” he said.

Team members competing in the state meet include Annie Laura Clayton, Lexie Gibson, Alex Johnston, Morgan Johnston, Tucker Johnston, Melissa Munn, Maggie Shorter, Emily Munn and Will Gibson.

The meet will begin Friday at 9 a.m. and will continue through Saturday.