Five Questions with Simley High School Boys Swimming Coach Lynn Newton

Simley High’s swimmers and divers had another banner year, capped by a sixth place finish at the state meet. Inver Grove Heights Patch sat down with coach Lynn Newton to get her take on the season.

Inver Grove Heights Patch: What was the highlight of the year for you?

Coach Lynn Newton: Just the unexpectedness of how well we did. In many ways we were in a big rebuilding year and some of the other coaches at state even said 'We thought you were in a rebuilding year.' It’s really fun that there really weren’t many expectations for [the students] and to see them really come through in the second half of the season and get that and see them place in the , it was awesome.

Patch: Was there a meet or an individual you’re going to remember 10 years from now?

Newton: I would actually say the St. Thomas meet. We didn’t win it and that’s exactly my point. We didn’t win it but [the students] walked out of there absolutely knowing that they had an amazing meet. And even though it comes down as a loss on the record for us, to them, you’ll never convince them that they lost that meet. I mean we won the big events, we won the big relays and even though we lost nine seniors last year, to come back and be able to not roll over and stand up and say we’re going to go against them whether it’s win or lose. It just shows you they’re learning the right things from all of this.

Patch: You’re losing some good seniors, but you have a lot of good swimmers coming back, Can you be better next year?

Newton: We had five guys at the state meet and when two of them are gone it’s hard to say. But I would have said the same thing last year. Now we didn’t place as high as we did last year, but for us to place sixth is pretty shocking to me. So I don’t put anything past them. I really don’t. Statistics would say no. But this group of boys surprises me every year and their determination and heart – you can’t put a win-lose on that. We have a lot of younger kids that if they step it up and they have some growth over the year, then we’ll be good

Patch: How good can Alec Kandt be?

Newton: He’s very talented. He does the work in the offseason. It’s the tip of the iceberg. If you even look at Alec right now, he’s not done growing, he’s not done maturing. He’s very young. He actually should be in ninth grade right now for his age. He’s not even close to reaching his potential yet. Even this year compared to last year. His work ethic and his leadership have just started to grow. He’s not even close to his potential. I’m willing to put money on that. Not even close. He doesn’t have a weak stroke.

Patch: Any regrets? Any missed opportunities this year?

Newton: There are always things that, as a coach, you have to look back on a season and think: You can do better. Nothing glaring. But of course I sit down and write notes about what I’m going to do better next year. Obviously there are going to be things we definitely could have done better. As a coach I think of it as a team thing. If I expect the kids to get better than I’ve got to think back and think what can I do better too? I’m always thinking of ways to improve the program.