The boys’ swimming and diving team will be competing in their sectional swim meet this Thursday. The team has been coached by a familiar face to BG athletics, 2018 graduate, Caitlyn Bowser. Caitlyn’s history with BG swimming goes all the way back to taking swim lessons offered by the swim program years ago. This led to Caitlyn participating in the club team until she was able to join the middle school team. While competing in sprint events early on, Bowser transitioned to distance and IM during her senior year. In college, Caitlyn continued improving in her distance skills and briefly held school records for Illinois College in the 1,650-yard freestyle (That’s a whole mile!) and the 1,000-yard freestyle. Reflecting on the differences between high school and college, Bowser summed up the transition as high school providing the support and structure to set you up for success, while college is about learning how to become an adult and finding your own path. However, her college experience was not without its own support structures. Caitlyn credits her older teammates and amazing coach for all the help throughout her college years. As Caitlyn took on the coaching responsibilities here at BG it was not without its own challenges. Commitment and attendance have made an impact on the program, but a handful of boys have stuck it out through the season and are getting ready for sectional competition. Coach Bowser’s goals for this year, have been for each swimmer to try at least one new event and earn at least one new personal best for the season. Looking longer term, Coach Bowser would like to see her now freshman earn a conference championship by their senior year. As a first-year coach, Caitlyn has enjoyed being back in the pool and seeing it from a different perspective. Coach Bowser is also a teacher and she finds herself using similar teaching techniques from her classroom in the pool. “I hope that my athletes learn to grow their love of swimming just as I did in this same pool and possibly continue on if that is where their life takes them,” Coach Bowser said. Good luck at sectionals this week Hornets and congratulations to Coach Bowser on her first year as head coach.