Dana Hall Varsity swimming, referred to as Sigma by its athletes, has won the Eastern Independent League championships (EILS) every year since the 2009-10 season, excluding the 2020-21 season where COVID prevented a championship meet. The swimming team’s success is not due to only one excellent coach. The swimming team has had many coaches over the past thirteen seasons.
“Sigma’s key to success is really the people, not just as swimmers but as who they are as a person, they make the team so special,” said captain Sophia Langlois ‘24.
Captains Mia El Abd ‘25 and Sophia Langlois described the team as resilient, courageous, compassionate, positive, caring, and welcoming to describe the team. The captains accredited these qualities to the success of the swim team.
Mia’s goals for the season include “Working hard, I really wanna win EIL’s (this year).”
“We have some strong, strong swimmers this year. And I think if we all just come together and realize we can win, we can do it,” agrees Langlois.
Last year, John Dillon joined the coaching staff as the Varsity head coach alongside assistant coach Douglas Doucet, who has been working with Dana Hall swimmers since 2021. During his time at Middlebury College, Dillon earned All-American honors in four different events and broke numerous school, league, and national records. He also won two individual national championships, in the 100 and 200 butterfly. Douglas Doucet also brings swimming experience to Dana Hall, having swam for Dartmouth College for four years.
Dillon’s main goals for the season include “Working hard at practice, refining race strategy at meets, working on the details (starts, turns, underwaters), and learning to support one another through challenges.” He has also said that this year there are more Junior Varsity athletes who are on the “cusp of Varsity-level racing,” which is promising to the future of Dana Hall’s swim team.
As Dana Hall’s Varsity swim team is entering the middle of the season, you can expect more wins, passion, camaraderie, and positive attitudes. So, the next time you’re bored on a Wednesday or Friday afternoon, come to the Shipley Athletic Center to watch Dana Hall’s most successful team compete!
Image Source: S. Jiang ‘23