Laura Dennis was not necessarily looking to start a coaching career.
The local attorney, however, did not want to see an end come to a program of which she was once a prominent part.
Dennis is leading the Wyoming Area boys and girls swimming team through her first preseason as coach, in preparation for Wednesday’s opener of the Wyoming Valley Conference season at home against Dallas.
With the position open to lead teams that have struggled in terms of both roster size and winning percentage in recent seasons, Dennis stepped forward.
“To me, swimming and sports provide a great disciplinary base for the rest of your life,” said Dennis, who won a district title and/or qualified for the state meet in all four years of a high school career that ended in 1991. “I think that swimming was so good to me that I felt very strongly that they could not close this program for the kids.”
Wyoming Area will go into the season with 11 boys and five girls competing. The Warriors were 1-8 and the Lady Warriors were 0-12 in the WVC a year ago.
Kayla Taddei returns after finishing sixth in District 2 Class 2A in diving last season.
Junior Rebecca Dymond is the best of the returning swimmers.
Freshman Julia Crane, who competes in the freestyle and breaststroke, has a background from age group swimming.
“She’s been outstanding so far,” Dennis said.
Junior Joseph Gacek is the top returnee on the boys team.
Luke Warunek, a senior, is improving in the freestyle.
Wyoming Area has added Abby Giunta from the field hockey team and Grant Crawford from the boys cross country team.
“I’m very happy about some new kids that came from other sports,” Dennis said. “I think that’s very challenging. They’re very trained and very in shape for their other sports, but to get in shape the way swimming requires is very challenging.
“ … I’m very excited for them. It’s their first year and their first time swimming competitively.”
Dennis will be assisted by Nancy Alberigi and Ken Bryden, who coaches the divers.
