NORTH ADAMS -- The Hoosac Valley girls' swim team has its share of new faces diving into the pool this season, but that doesn't mean they're all new to the sport.
Emma and Julia Whitney joined the Hoosac Valley co-operative swim team after competing for the Mount Greylock alpine team last season. Neither sister is brand new to competitive swimming, however. Both swam for a club team out of Westfield in the past.
"When we were swimming in Westfield it was hard to practice every day because it was two hours away," Julia Whitney said. "So being able to practice every day was a huge thing for us in switching."
They join Liz Bernardy and Michaella Vecchiarelli as some of the top swimmers for the Hurricanes this season. The four of them combine to make the 200 medley relay team.
Both Emma and Julia have experienced immediate success for the Hurricanes. They have both qualified for the Western Massachusetts meet in several different events.
With just 21 members on the team, it allows the swimmers to narrow their focus. A smaller team means more time to work on technique.
"The team is a lot smaller here, so I think it brings us a lot closer and allows us to be more of a team," Emma Whitney said. "The practices are a lot different. You have a lot more time to work on stuff. It was all about times [at Westfield] and doing things really fast. Here, it's about really breaking down your stroke and working on the things
Talented high school athletes often need to make the difficult choice of competing for their high school or searching for a different level of competition at the club levels. Alyssa Bush and Cori Ghidotti were both standouts for Hoosac last season, but made the change to a club team this year.
"I think it really depends on the year," Hoosac coach Eryn Brewer said. "It depends on how the club teams are doing and how the high school teams are doing. I think you see a lot of girls and boys jump back and forth between the two trying to find the right fit for them."
The Whitneys, who attend Mount Greylock, made the decision for a few reasons. Not only was the commute difficult and the thought of swimming every day appetizing, but the chance to swim close to home also played a major role in the decision.
"I thought it would be fun swimming with kids from around here and getting to know them," Julia Whitney said. "Plus the chance to swim for our school and our friends was important."
While the Whitneys aren't new to swimming, several members of their team are. Including Shyla Sexton, who has met all of her coaches expectations so far this season.
"It's Shyla's first season and she's doing really great for us in all of the events that I put her in," Brewer said. With so many new members on the team, Brewer has had to change her approach. Last season, the Hurricanes had a team with a lot of experience.
"It's Shyla's first season and she's doing really great for us in all of the events that I put her in," Brewer said. With so many new members on the team, Brewer has had to change her approach. Last season, the Hurricanes had a team with a lot of experience.
"We have a lot of new swimmers who haven't swam before, so it's an interesting dynamic," the second-year coach said. "It's totally different. You have to go back to the basics all over again and really start from square one."
Having a good mix of new and experienced swimmers also allows the returning swimmers to take on leadership roles.
"We're just working with them in practice a lot," Bernardy said. "The people who have been swimming longer have a chance to help them, and we get to grow as a team in the future."
Of course, having athletes with a wealth of experience from another team join yours never hurts either.
"They add a great dynamic to our team," Brewer said of the Whitney sisters. "They are very funny girls who bring a great atmosphere to the team and really help."
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