Swimming World Presents “…Never This Good,” Featuring Harpeth Hall School

Photo Courtesy: Emily Mabry

Harpeth Hall: “…Never This Good!”

One of the greatest American swimmers of all time, Tracy Caulkins, represented the Harpeth Hall School of Nashville, Tenn. during her high school years, but the Bearacuda squad looked a lot different back in 1978-81. Coach Polly Linden became the all-girls prep school’s swim coach in 1994, when “there wasn’t really a swim team—just swimmers who represented the school,” says Linden.

Harpeth Hall has a reputation for aquatic excellence. But this year’s swim team was unlike anything Linden has ever seen.

“This year’s squad was just so elite,” Linden said. “You will never see a team like this again. The way they won was different— we usually pick up points where we can—in the top and bottom heats of finals. But this year, we were picking up points at the top of every event. We’ve been good in the past…we’ve been really good… but never this good.”

Linden isn’t kidding. Harpeth Hall has a jaw-dropping history of state championships. Since Linden took the reins, the Bearacuda girls have won 12 of the school’s 15 titles, including seven in a row from 2001-07 and currently five in a row. The school also has two national independent school titles (1978, 1980) and now an overall national high school championship.

To learn more about Harpeth Hall’s successful year of swimming, check out the September 2018 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

Swimming World subscribers can download this issue in the Swimming World Vault!

[PHOTO COURTESY: POLLY LINDEN]

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FEATURES

017 A YEAR TO REMEMBER
by David Rieder
North Allegheny High School won its first national title in school history, defeating Carmel High School (Ind.), 168 to 142.5, to capture Swimming World’s 2017-18 boys’ national high school championships.

021 “…NEVER THIS GOOD!”
by Annie Grevers
Forty years since Harpeth Hall School (Tenn.) finished second in Swimming World’s National High School Championships, the Bearacuda girls finally made it to the top, outswimming Buchholz High School (Fla.), 170.5 to 135.5—and ending Carmel’s (Ind.) five-year reign as national champions

027 TOKYO TAKEAWAY
by David Rieder
For Team USA, their performance at the Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo was cause for some concern. For Australia, it was reason to be excited. For both, it wasn’t the end game.

029 PROJECT 56
by David Rieder
At the European Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain’s Adam Peaty—the best sprint breaststroker in history—took aim at an unfathomable boundary: swimming the men’s 100 meter breast under 57 seconds.

030 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH ALLISON SCHMITT
by Annie Grevers

040 AROUND THE TABLE WITH MARIAH DENIGAN—A LOOK INTO TEENAGE NUTRITION
by Annie Grevers and Dawn Weatherwax

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: JOHN COLLINS
by Michael J. Stott

014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMAL MODEL FOR TECHNIQUE: PART 3—HEAD POSITION AND MOTION
by Rod Havriluk
This month’s article examines the effect of head position and motion on body rotation, and consequently, body size and shape. The head is critical because a slight variation in the non-breathing position or excess motion during breathing can impact resistance from the rest of the body.

032 SPECIAL SETS: EARLY FALL SEASON TRAINING
by Michael J. Stott
Coaches Ethan Hall (Crow Canyon Sharks) and Brian Elko (Egg Harbor Township) share some insights and actual sets that they offer athletes, ages 15-18, as they resume aquatic training.

034 PREHAB/REHAB VIA THE SWIM BENCH: STAYING FIT
by Michael J. Stott
This installment is the third in a multi-part series and explores the role of the swim bench in injury prevention and rehabilitation.

042 Q&A WITH COACH MIKE NOVELL
by Michael J. Stott

043 HOW THEY TRAIN DANNY KOVAC
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

026 DRYSIDE TRAINING: STROKE AND DISTANCE STRENGTH SERIES—INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

036 GOLDMINDS: SETTING GOALS…AND HOW TO ACHIEVE THEM!
by Wayne Goldsmith
Exchange your hopes for “actions,” trade in your wishes for “commitment” and swap your dreams for “goals”—and you’ll be on your way to realizing your full potential!

045 UP & COMERS: MAGGIE WANEZEK by Taylor Brien

COLUMNS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
013 BEYOND THE YARDS
016 THE OFFICIAL WORD
039 MOMS AT MEETS
046 HASTY HIGH POINTERS
047 GUTTER TALK
048 PARTING SHOT

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