{"id":369843,"date":"2019-05-24T13:00:58","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T20:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=369843"},"modified":"2019-05-25T12:43:44","modified_gmt":"2019-05-25T19:43:44","slug":"from-the-sidelines-to-lane-lines-qa-with-brandan-coward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/from-the-sidelines-to-lane-lines-qa-with-brandan-coward\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Sidelines to Lane Lines: Q&A With Brandan Coward"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ryan Klages, Swimming World College Intern.<\/em><\/p>\n

It is rare for a swimmer to explore the world of land sports, let alone a land-sport athlete becoming vulnerable enough to try out the aquatic scene. Completing a water workout can humble even the toughest of non-aquatic athletes. Yet one high school football player defied all norms: He tried out for the school’s team as a beginner and now has his sights set high on school records and state competition.<\/p>\n

Brandan Coward <\/strong>will be a senior next year at Chaminade High School in Mineola, N.Y., and began swimming his sophomore year of high school. In the fall of 2017, the football season ended, and he decided to try out for his high school’s swimming and diving team. Coward had very little experience in swimming, with only a short stint with a club team on his resume. Despite this, he showed up to the pool on the day of try-outs. He had no idea the type of experience he was getting into.<\/p>\n

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Photo Courtesy: Brandan Coward<\/p><\/div>\n

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Swimming World: What brought you to try out for the swim team?<\/h3>\n

Coward<\/strong>: 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.<\/p>\n

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SW: What were some of your feelings after finding out that you made the team?<\/h3>\n

Coward<\/strong>: Not going to lie, I was shocked at first! Looking at all the other kids swimming, I said to myself, \u201cI never did some of the stuff they are doing.\u201d When Coach (Angelo) Pellicone<\/strong> told me he would take me, I was just shocked but also excited to start a new adventure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

SW: What was the toughest challenge you faced early on?<\/h3>\n
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Coward<\/strong>: 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!<\/p>\n

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SW: Who were some of guys you looked up to and why?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Coward: <\/strong>I looked to everyone for guidance, because I didn\u2019t know the warm up and I didn\u2019t understand the sets. However, the one person I looked to the most was Thomas Daly<\/strong>. The first day I was in the locker room, he introduced himself and welcomed me with open arms. He\u2019s someone I looked up to and continue to, and we will be friends for a long time.<\/p>\n

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Photo Courtesy: Brandan Coward<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Coward found personal success early on in his first year. He dropped his tryout time all the way down to a 24.52 in his first meet, and he continued to improved more and more as the season progressed. He regularly competed in the relays and the 50 freestyle events, trying to separate himself from his fellow sprinters to earn one of the four spots to be a point scorer at the league championships.<\/p>\n

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SW: Were you surprised that you were chosen to be a point scorer for your team?<\/h3>\n

Coward:<\/strong> When Coach Pellicone told me he wanted me to score points for the team, I was appalled. I wondered, \u201cWhy me? I just started this year.\u201d But I\u2019m happy he picked me, because it was probably the best thing I did.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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SW: What are some of your goals for this coming season?<\/h3>\n

Coward: <\/strong>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.\u00a0<\/strong>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\u2019t say this to be cocky, that\u2019s 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\u2019s what is important to me. Being remembered positively.<\/p>\n