From the Sidelines to Lane Lines: Q&A With Brandan Coward

Swimming World: What brought you to try out for the swim team?

Coward: I always knew I was someone who broke the social norm. My dad and I talked about swimming for Chaminade since I was in seventh grade, and knew I wanted to attend Chaminade High School. I decided to try out – not only to swim and compete but also to show the school that Brandan Coward is more than just football.

Coward: The toughest thing was getting to know everyone. Most of the kids on the team were kind of confused and surprised I tried out and made it. It took some time for me to adjust and be myself. Also, the sets Coach Pellicone gave us were kinda crazy!

Coward: I looked to everyone for guidance, because I didn’t know the warm up and I didn’t understand the sets. However, the one person I looked to the most was Thomas Daly. The first day I was in the locker room, he introduced himself and welcomed me with open arms. He’s someone I looked up to and continue to, and we will be friends for a long time.

Photo Courtesy: Brandan Coward

SW: Were you surprised that you were chosen to be a point scorer for your team?

Coward: When Coach Pellicone told me he wanted me to score points for the team, I was appalled. I wondered, “Why me? I just started this year.” But I’m happy he picked me, because it was probably the best thing I did.

The decision worked out for the best, because Coward would finish in eighth place and helped his team win its second championship in a row. The following season, Coward held even more responsibility. Now that he was a junior, he needed to step up as a leader. He did exactly that. Coward led off his 200 and 400 free relays at the New York State Championships. They finished fourth and fifth respectively. With the success that Coward has achieved, he is more than excited for his senior year.

SW: What are some of your goals for this coming season?

Coward: This past season, my biggest goal was making states. I told myself after last season, as I was only 0.4 tenths away from the state cut time. And I did just what I promised myself I would do. I plan to break the 2014 school record this upcoming season. I am 0.4 seconds away, and I have a tendency to drop seconds when I step on the block. I don’t say this to be cocky, that’s the legacy I want to leave. I want the coaches to look back or really look up at the board and remember the type of person, teammate, and swimmer I was. That’s what is important to me. Being remembered positively.

-All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.