Despite facing major adversity, the boys swim and dive team had a successful season, which ended with a state champion team. Coach Bob Barth resigned, leaving the coaching of the program to assistant coach Ian Johnson.

“Our assistant coach stepped up and has done a great job,” said senior Nathaniel Vawter. Losing a head coach would have many effects on a group of athletes. The boys were very upset, but they were forced to change for better or for worse.

“At first it was really tough with coach gone, and there was a lot of anger from us towards the situation. But I believe it brought us together to help us swim much better”, said senior Lucas Wyland.

The boys came together for the better by completing a really successful season and taking sixth as a team overall in state and achieving first in the state meet in the medley relay with several other top finishers.

Barth was known for being an intense swim coach. He impacted many of the older swimmers and taught them about technique. The boys said his absence was rough at first, but it gave them a reason to swim faster. The boys said they decided they would “Swim For Bob,” and they even went as far as making shirts with the saying on them for the state team. They also had a shirt that said “Bring Our Best,” an acronym of Bob’s name. “We’re trying to leave a legacy for him and show off everything he taught us,” said senior Salvatore Trombino.