RBC girls swim team getting its mojo back after some down years
January 12, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.
When Kyle Clayton became the Red Bank Catholic girls swim coach last year, he had a few simple goals for a program that had fallen on recent tough times.
“I felt the team had talent,” said Clayton, whose previous coaching stints were at Ocean City High and Middletown North. “It was just a matter of them putting it all together; encouraging them to be great teammates and to show up at meets cheering and encouraging each other. We really focused on student leadership and them taking ownership of the program. We’ve tried to build a culture that dates back to RBC’s championship era of 10 years ago when this program was one of the strongest in the Shore Conference.”
One thing the coach did not do, was employ a win-at-all-costs strategy.
“Not that winning is the ultimate goal,” he continued. “It really isn’t. It’s such a shallow goal to really strive for. Last year my goal was for them to become relevant in the Shore Conference again.”
They did that by finishing in the Top Five in the Monmouth County and Shore Conference meets.
The Caseys went 74-14 from the 2010-11 to 2018-19 seasons but stumbled the next three years. Clayton arrived and RBC went 10-4 last season and was 4-1 entering its Jan. 10 meet with St. Rose, Belmar. On Jan. 6, the Caseys were third in the Jan. 6 Monmouth meet at the Neptune Aquatic Center behind Trinity Hall (the lone team to beat them this year) and Manasquan.
After gaining relevance last season, Clayton said this year, “Our goal is to prove we belong, and I think we did that (at the MCT).”
Highlighting the county meet for RBC were first place finishes in the 200 free relay and 400 free relay. The Caseys won big in the 400 with a time 3:38, which was roughly five seconds off the meet record and six seconds ahead of any other relay team.
“The 400 relay was an upset,” Clayton said. “We had an idea it was possible, but nobody else had any idea we could do that. The girls went out and destroyed it. It was probably one of the most exciting moments of my coaching career watching them just dominate the field.”
The same girls swam both relays – freshman Hayden Gill, sophomore Natalie Dapra, junior Olivia Wheeler and senior Caitlyn Evans.
“What’s really special is that this is a diverse group,” Clayton said. “We lost a senior last year, and we replaced her with a freshman, and everyone went up a grade. That’s how you want to build your program. Those four are like the core of our team.”
With that quartet comes flexibility in the lineup, as the coach can plug them in whatever events are necessary depending on the dual meet matchups.
“Those four can do anything,” Clayton said. “Obviously we know what they do best at but at any moment’s notice they are willing and eager to do whatever this team needs. We’re just trying to groom them as people and leaders. It’s basically ‘Can your enthusiasm be contagious?’”
The unquestioned leader is Evans, a two-time captain that Clayton “can’t say enough good things about.” As the anchor swimmer in the 400 relay, the coach watched her crawl out of the pool at the race’s conclusion “and sit on the side of the deck totally exhausted but so happy with herself and the team.”
“Evans is the face of our team,” he continued. “She just has an incredible personality and work ethic. I love her grit.”
Other contributors include Izzy Kopp, Maeve Rennard, Scarlett Schmidt, Lily Stockum and Kyle Noreiga.
Rennard’s brother, Charlie, got RBC’s only individual gold medal at the MCT by winning the 50 free in the boys’ meet, and he also took second in the 200 free.
It mattered not that RBC had no individual MCT winners for the girls.
“We had a bunch of top-three, top-five girls, which is great,” Clayton said. “No one else won and that’s fine. We’re happy to support them and cheer them on and love on them, whatever they can do.”
From left to right, senior Caitlyn Evans, freshman Hayden Gill, junior Olivia Wheeler and sophomore Natalie Dapra show off their medals after winning the 400 free relay at the Monmouth County Championship meet Jan. 6 at the Neptune Aquatic Center. Contributed photo.
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When Kyle Clayton became the Red Bank Catholic girls swim coach last year, he had a few simple goals for a program that had fallen on recent tough times.
“I felt the team had talent,” said Clayton, whose previous coaching stints were at Ocean City High and Middletown North. “It was just a matter of them putting it all together; encouraging them to be great teammates and to show up at meets cheering and encouraging each other. We really focused on student leadership and them taking ownership of the program. We’ve tried to build a culture that dates back to RBC’s championship era of 10 years ago when this program was one of the strongest in the Shore Conference.”
One thing the coach did not do, was employ a win-at-all-costs strategy.
“Not that winning is the ultimate goal,” he continued. “It really isn’t. It’s such a shallow goal to really strive for. Last year my goal was for them to become relevant in the Shore Conference again.”
They did that by finishing in the Top Five in the Monmouth County and Shore Conference meets.
The Caseys went 74-14 from the 2010-11 to 2018-19 seasons but stumbled the next three years. Clayton arrived and RBC went 10-4 last season and was 4-1 entering its Jan. 10 meet with St. Rose, Belmar. On Jan. 6, the Caseys were third in the Jan. 6 Monmouth meet at the Neptune Aquatic Center behind Trinity Hall (the lone team to beat them this year) and Manasquan.
After gaining relevance last season, Clayton said this year, “Our goal is to prove we belong, and I think we did that (at the MCT).”
Highlighting the county meet for RBC were first place finishes in the 200 free relay and 400 free relay. The Caseys won big in the 400 with a time 3:38, which was roughly five seconds off the meet record and six seconds ahead of any other relay team.
“The 400 relay was an upset,” Clayton said. “We had an idea it was possible, but nobody else had any idea we could do that. The girls went out and destroyed it. It was probably one of the most exciting moments of my coaching career watching them just dominate the field.”
The same girls swam both relays – freshman Hayden Gill, sophomore Natalie Dapra, junior Olivia Wheeler and senior Caitlyn Evans.
“What’s really special is that this is a diverse group,” Clayton said. “We lost a senior last year, and we replaced her with a freshman, and everyone went up a grade. That’s how you want to build your program. Those four are like the core of our team.”
With that quartet comes flexibility in the lineup, as the coach can plug them in whatever events are necessary depending on the dual meet matchups.
“Those four can do anything,” Clayton said. “Obviously we know what they do best at but at any moment’s notice they are willing and eager to do whatever this team needs. We’re just trying to groom them as people and leaders. It’s basically ‘Can your enthusiasm be contagious?’”
The unquestioned leader is Evans, a two-time captain that Clayton “can’t say enough good things about.” As the anchor swimmer in the 400 relay, the coach watched her crawl out of the pool at the race’s conclusion “and sit on the side of the deck totally exhausted but so happy with herself and the team.”
“Evans is the face of our team,” he continued. “She just has an incredible personality and work ethic. I love her grit.”
Other contributors include Izzy Kopp, Maeve Rennard, Scarlett Schmidt, Lily Stockum and Kyle Noreiga.
Rennard’s brother, Charlie, got RBC’s only individual gold medal at the MCT by winning the 50 free in the boys’ meet, and he also took second in the 200 free.
It mattered not that RBC had no individual MCT winners for the girls.
“We had a bunch of top-three, top-five girls, which is great,” Clayton said. “No one else won and that’s fine. We’re happy to support them and cheer them on and love on them, whatever they can do.”
From left to right, senior Caitlyn Evans, freshman Hayden Gill, junior Olivia Wheeler and sophomore Natalie Dapra show off their medals after winning the 400 free relay at the Monmouth County Championship meet Jan. 6 at the Neptune Aquatic Center. Contributed photo.
The Church needs quality Catholic journalism now more than ever. Please consider supporting this work by signing up for a SUBSCRIPTION (click HERE) or making a DONATION to The Monitor (click HERE). Thank you for your support.