A few occasions in the course of the River Dell/Westwood swim banquet, Coach Chris Armen went off script.
You already know what I imply. He couldn’t assist however inform a fast story or two a couple of swimmer or a humorous second that occurred with the staff that he thought exemplified what being a member of the staff was all about.
There was the swimmer, I imagine it was Gabriella Porco, who all the time needed to be warned about taunting (it was a joke).
And the time Armen couldn’t wait for a woman to complete her relay in order that the quick youngsters might end up.
And the opposite time one swimmer was swimming in a digital meet and instantly seemed up and requested whether or not or not her teammate had received.
Every story made the gang snigger and….made the boys on the desk subsequent to me cease throwing little wads of paper at each other.
Armen mentioned it was yr 17 for him as River Dell/Westwood swim coach. I can’t imagine it. For me it was yr 16 for the Purple Speedo presentation, one among my favourite traditions in all of North Jersey athletics. For those who google my identify after which the phrase ‘and’ the subsequent two phrases within the search bot are “Purple Speedo.”
Effectively, its good to be recognized for one thing.
This yr there was one thing totally different within the room although. Possibly it was the brand new environment: Biagio’s in Paramus, possibly it was simply the truth that it was the primary in-person indoor dinner in two years.
But it surely was Love.
Armen, which I don’t ever keep in mind him saying immediately (and keep in mind I’ve been doing this for 16 years) immediately telling the staff how a lot he appreciated them and liked them.
It wasn’t mentioned to be hokey. It was actual and sincere.
“Teaching is nice since you get to spend time with nice individuals,” Armen mentioned. “And people nice individuals are you.”
Possibly I’m going approach overboard, however I don’t suppose so. I believe for positive COVID scared lots of people and made us nervous. However in some methods, it might have made us unafraid to say issues like I like you to the individuals who want it.
Love and swimming huh?
I believe the opposite factor that stood out to me Wednesday night time was the sensation of household. Chris Armen is no longer the one head coach within the household. His spouse Mary Jo is the pinnacle coach at Don Bosco Prep. And sure, the 2 groups swam towards each other this winter and Don Bosco received. So she now has household bragging rights.
Yeah, love and swimming, you already know?
The River Dell/Westwood boys completed 6-5 and had six boys qualify for the Bergen Meet of Champs. They misplaced to Livingston within the first spherical of staff states. All 5 of their losses got here to a lot greater applications.
The women completed 4-7 in a season affected by some COVID points, but in addition had the defining second for this system this winter. They misplaced to Pascack Valley Regional in the course of the common season and Armen mentioned he simply knew his staff might discover a solution to win.
As probability would have it, the Hawks obtained a second shot within the first spherical of the State Event and River Dell/Westwood was prepared. Armen fiddled with the line-up, obtained nice swims high to backside and so they received 91-79.
“It was a kind of meets the place every little thing we tried labored,” mentioned Armen “It’s not that always that occurs in a coach’s profession, nevertheless it occurred that day.”
Someway, they received although they received simply two of the 11 races. However possibly that’s what love (and depth) can do for you.
However hey, it’s additionally Purple Speedo Night time!
For the newcomer right here, the purple speedo (nicely, actually, it’s a drag swimsuit) is a 16-year previous custom {that a} native sportswriter makes a giant deal out of yearly. I adore it. It began organically with a senior boy swimmer passing down a purple speedo to an incoming junior who he thought finest exemplified the staff’s spirit.
This yr it was Jack Monaco’s flip to make the hand-off. I used to be sitting simply behind Jack (unintentionally) and he whipped out his speech and I might inform he was nervous. He did an superior job of explaining what the Speedo meant to him and why he selected the subsequent proprietor. Then he handed it over to Quinlan Kraft.
It makes me nervous although for Quinlan, as a result of I didn’t see any sophomore boys final night time. All women, so Quinlan might have to chop a brand new custom or one thing in 2023, as a result of proper now, there wouldn’t be anybody at hand it off to.
It’s all a lot enjoyable.
And now, the Purple Speedo has spawned a number of cousins, as a result of a convention like that is too good. I snigger on a regular basis now that folks nonetheless underestimate youngsters.
Sure, they’re on their telephones approach an excessive amount of, however you give them the prospect and so they do the proper factor. And on the subject of athletics, they know who deserves the accolades and who doesn’t. They know!
Ryan Berman handed down the Purple Bikini (and the five hundred curse, as a result of by coincident the Purple Bikini winners all the time find yourself swimming the five hundred) to 2 associates: Caroline Burmaster and Eliza Olszewska.
Nika Khvedelidze, or Nika Okay, handed over the Purple Swim Cap to Jason McCarter (who additionally received my unofficial finest dressed swimmer award).
The final presentation of the night time was the Rainbow Swim Cap. Let’s simply say Lindsay Vogt was extraordinarily emotional when she described the connection along with her buddy and teammate Mackenzie Fox. The rainbow cap was given to Fox.
There are different awards.
Nick Myers’ father gave out the award in Nick’s identify and talked in regards to the scholarship the varsity has. He inspired the youngsters to use, however by no means mentioned how. I seemed it up.
Sofia Dunne and Steven Plysyk received the Myers Award.
Assistant coach Tommy Nolan gave his award to Sean Woolley, saying he epitomized being the very best model of himself each day.
Assistant coach Jen Grochowski talked about perseverance when it got here to her award. It went to Freddie Batraki, a swimmer she mentioned all the time finds a approach.
Armen talked about household when he gave his award to Lindsay Vogt saying how a lot she and her household meant to him.
Household, love and swimming. And a Speedo.
Full record of Awards
Captains Award: Ryan Berman and Gianni Liggeri
Coaches Award: Gabriella Porco and Jason McCarter
Excessive Level: Caroline Burmaster and Nika Khvedelidze
Katie Conway Award: Alice Rappazzo
Sportsmanship: Eliza Olszewska and Sean Woolley
Achievement: Estefania Perez and Nike Khvedelidze
MVP: Caroline Burmaster and Jack Monaco
Darren Cooper is a peachy-keen highschool sports activities columnist for NorthJersey.com. For full entry to reside scores, breaking information and evaluation from our Varsity Aces staff, subscribe as we speak. To get breaking information on to your inbox, join our publication and obtain our app.
E-mail: cooperd@northjersey.com
Twitter: @varsityaces