Dolphins: Building on success

The Woodstock Dolphins are closing in on the end of their season and head coach Bill Stanton is hoping his team can cash in on their talent with the conference and state tournaments just around the corner.

As of July 9, the Dolphins, with about 120 swimmers from ages 8 and under to 20 years old this year, have won two of their three dual meets and have consistently dropped times. Stanton, who is in his second year as head coach, said his team is very talented.

“We have competed well,” Stanton said. “We are a championship quality team right now if we have everyone show up. We have swimmers who have [previously] qualified for regionals, state and zones.

“… [The team] has been breaking records left and right. We are poised to do well in state. We need a little more participation, but we are very good.”

Stanton singled out one of his swimmers as someone who could make a mark in high school.

“Tess Devinger is a fantastic swimmer,” Stanton said. “She will be a freshman at [Woodstock High School] and the first time she sets her foot in the water [in the 100-breast], she will set the school record.”

Stanton also praised Cora Rafe, 12,  Lindsey Ferguson, 11, Davis Meyn, 13, and the boys 15 and over group which includes Henry Gantner, Ben Bradley, Trevor Nomm, Liam DeWane and Adam Steinken. 

“They are a good group of guys,” Stanton said of his 15 and older team members. “They are talented and very intelligent.”

A key to the Dolphins’ success is developing swimming skills at a younger age, according to Stanton, and he said the team always needs young swimmers.

 “We would like to see a lot of new swimmers at the 9- to  10-year-old age group,” Stanton said. “We like to start them off young and refine their strokes so when they are older they are used to it.”

The Dolphins are a member of the North Central Illinois Swim Conference and will host the conference meet Saturday, July 21, at Woodstock North High School. Stanton said the team is lucky to have use of the facility.

“It’s a beautiful facility,” Stanton said. “We are lucky to have it. It’s nice to have a facility that we can use to its potential.”

The Dolphins plan on putting up a record board this winter and Stanton noted “It will help get our times out there.”

The Illinois Swimming Age Group Championships tournament will be Thursday to Sunday, July 25 to 28 at Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

The Central Zones 14 and under championship will be held Friday to Sunday, Aug. 3 to  5, in Pleasant Prairie and will include competitors from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana and Iowa.  2012 Senior Central Zones will be held Friday to Sunday, Aug. 3 to 5, in Lawrence, Kan.

The rest of the Dolphins coaching staff includes head assistant coach Renee Walker and assistant coaches Laura Stanton, Matt Stanton, Marti Frisbie and Haley Brasile.