Swim and Dive Teams Splash into Season

Success is a motivating factor that drives determination and productivity and that is exactly what the New Providence Community Pool Piranhas have grown accustomed to under the guidance of 10-year head coach, Walter Kempner.

The Piranhas swim team is currently 3-1 at the half-way point and is coming off a 6-2 season where both of the team’s loses were to Westfield, which has been undefeated for the past 35 years.  

“Everyone wants a shot at them (Westfield) and we have been getting close and close to them at our home meets. We have been within 20 points or less, so we are getting close,” said Kempner.

Kempner went on to say, “They (Westfield) have been our nemesis, but against everyone else we have had a lot of success and have done quite well.”

Coach Kempner and his entire team are gearing up for next week’s matchup against the undefeated Westfield team. He said the Piranhas are excited about the July 14 home event and will be more than prepared when the 5pm start time approaches.

“We have a meet next week at home against Westfield and if we win that one it will be the upset of the century that we really look forward to,” said Kempner.

Coach Kempner feels the atmosphere at every event is exciting and energetic because he feels they developed a “great vibe” at the community pool, but he went on to explain that the Westfield matchups are “electric” and “intense” because of the long-standing rivalry and the nature of the fierce competition between the two teams.

The NPCP swim team is comprised of two teams, green and gold. The green team is the more competitive team whereas the gold team is more of a developmental team. With that said, the gold team does compete against other teams, but on a different level than the green.

“So far my green team is 3-1 at the half way point so we are doing pretty well and the gold team has been outstanding in the two meets we had already showing some really nice improvement over all so it’s been good,” said Kempner.

The teams compete in the Northern Jersey Swim League and face other swim clubs like Morris Township, Livingston, and West Caldwell in addition to Westfield.

In order to be a part of the NPCP Piranhas, one must first be a member of the pool, and then make the team based on his or her performance at tryouts, which are held at the beginning of June and are open to new and existing team members. Time trials will ultimately determine whether the swimmer will be on the green or gold team.

The swimmers compete against others in their same age group and sex with the exception of several relays in the eight and under group and 13 and over group that compete co-ed.

The season ends at the end of July, but until then the teams hold practice every morning and compete in the evenings several days a week.

“The kids are having fun with it and that’s the number one thing,” said Kempner.

As for the pool’s dive team, well they too have reveled in continuous success over the past few years. This year’s team is coming off of an impressive 4-1 season and sports a new head coach by the name of Ken Platt. Coach Platt comes to NPCP from Berkeley Heights with 26 years of experience as a dive coach.

“It is great to be here, I have been so warmly received. I have great, great kids that are truly a pleasure to work with,” said Platt.

This year the dive team has 50 kids in the program. While all 50 don’t compete at the meets, Coach Platt believes there are many “talented younger kids and a nice mix of returning kids” on this year’s team.

Last year’s team finished in second place in the All-Team Championships held at the end of the season and look to be just as successful this year, if not better.

Similarly to the swim team, the dive team has a competitive team that faces other swim clubs while also developing the program with younger kids eager to learn.

There are six teams in the dive league including Chatham, Westfield, Berkeley Heights, Summit and Mountainside. This league is the only summer diving league in the general area.

Coach Platt finds himself in a unique position because there are not many competitive dive teams left in the state of New Jersey and he feels he and his team are in a good place in a league with six solid, established teams.

This year, the team’s assistant coach is also one of the divers in 18-year-old David Hays. Hays is in his last year of eligibility on the team and has been competing for the Piranhas for the past 11 years.

“We definitely have a great team this year. We have a lot of energy. Coach is a veteran and he aspires kids to reach new heights,” said Hays.

Over the years Hays has worked hard to perfect five dives, but his ultimate favorite is the forward double somersault which he always closes his performances with. Hays has loved that dive since he was nine years old.

As the season progresses and Hays’ final year of competition winds down, there is one adage he always lives by, “The sun always shines on the dive team.”

Coach Kempner, Coach Platt, and Head Manager Steve Fowler encourage as many people to attend the meets as possible. Members and non-members are both welcomed to the meets as spectators at no charge. Non-members do not need to be accompanied by a member while a spectator for the meets.