Leo Delev, Reporter
Featured Graphic by Victoria Tremblay
The Valles Pool at the New Canaan YMCA may be closed, but the NCHS girls swim and dive team has no intention of lowering the bar. After finishing as the Class L runner-up the past two years, the Rams entered this season determined to challenge for a state title while navigating reduced pool space, disrupted diving facilities and a demanding schedule against some of Connecticut’s top teams.
On August 18, Valles Pool closed for roof renovations. Since then, the swim team has had fewer lanes in the YMCA’s Foresse Pool because of other aquatic activities. The diving team has moved practices outdoors to the New Canaan Field Club. The changes have created challenges for both groups, forcing the team to adjust its training.
To accommodate these obstacles, swim coach Kat Munson has made some changes. “I changed some of the requirements for coming to high school practice,” Ms. Munson said. “I don’t want the pool to become overcrowded to the point where it could be dangerous.”
Club swimmers now alternate between high school and club practices, allowing them to maintain their training while keeping lanes less crowded. The team has also emphasized technique, incorporating drills to improve underwater work and power.
The closure has been especially difficult for the diving team. With less consistent access to the board, divers have focused on core strength, tumbling and flexibility. Ms. Munson remains confident in the group and diving coach Joe Soma, who is entering his 30th season at New Canaan. “I have a lot of faith in our divers and in their coach,” she said. “I refer to him as the GOAT of diving coaches. He is incredible.”
“We’re raising the bar, and you need to climb up with us.”
KAt Munson, girls swim and dive coach
Limited pool access is not new for the Rams. In 2023, the Foresse Pool closed for major plumbing and tiling repairs, leaving the girls with just under eight hours of pool time per week. The team responded with more dryland training, flexibility, and core work through yoga, and they still finished third at the state championships.
That experience has convinced Ms. Munson that the current closure should not change the team’s expectations. “Because we were able to be so successful despite those obstacles, I don’t think we should lower our expectations because of this closure,” she said. “We’re raising the bar, and you need to climb up with us.”
The Rams opened the season with losses against Ridgefield and Greenwich, which Ms. Munson considers the two best teams in the state. They then went on to defeat Fairfield Ludlowe, Norwalk, and rival Darien, making their current record stand at 3-2. New Canaan will be looking to carry this momentum through the rest of their season.
Despite intense practices, Ms. Munson was encouraged by the team’s early racing. “I was really proud to see that even though the times weren’t exactly where the swimmers wanted them to be, the racing and fast-twitch muscle activation at the beginning of the races were much better than I expected given how tired they were from practices,” she said. “That makes me excited, because once we rest at the end of the season, they’ll be able to perform.”
As the Rams approach the FCIAC and state championships, senior diving captain Julie Frangione will be one to watch as she contends for Class L and State Open titles. Swimmers Cora Huang and Kaitlyn Knowles also lead the team as captains, while juniors Campbell Greiner and Sydney Bonheur are expected to have breakout seasons. Sophomore Maya Srivastava and Freshmen Grace Wang, Allison Santaniello and Caroline Santaniello will also look to contribute points.
Ms. Munson is also excited about the program’s future. “We have a huge freshman class this year, and it’s a very strong group,” she said. With several strong swimmers coming through middle school, Ms. Munson believes New Canaan could have a chance in two to three years to win the State Open and challenge Ridgefield and Greenwich.
For now, the Rams will continue adapting to limited facilities while pursuing the same goal they began the season with: raising the bar. “I’m excited to put up a fight to win the Class L Championship,” Ms. Munson said.
