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The new cross country, soccer and swim coaches

Get to know the new faces behind the fall sports teams this year

Will Shepard Staff Reporter
Originally published October 25th, 2019

CROSS COUNTRY


New head coach, Neal Hawrd, obserevs a meet on Sept. 24 against Bellarmine. “I want to empower the leaders on this team to be successful,” Howard said. (Courtesy of Eric Souza)

New head coach, Neal Hawrd, obserevs a meet on Sept. 24 against Bellarmine. “I want to empower the leaders on this team to be successful,” Howard said. (Courtesy of Eric Souza)

Neal Howard, the newly named head coach of the cross country team, is not a newcomer, having been an assistant coach under former head coach Bob Mirenzi since 2014.

Howard is excited to take the helm of the cross country team and lead them to victory.

“I want to leave a legacy of a team that enjoys being a team,” Howard said. “I want [the team] to enjoy doing this as a part of a team, and become a cohesive unit that is successful.”

Howard ran all the way through high school and college, yet he stopped running once he reached grad school.

“When I was in grad school, I went to my college championship, and I realized how much I missed the sport,” Howard said. “Right when I got back, I contacted the coach at my college to volunteer and help coach. He let me in, and I’ve been coaching ever since.”

Once Howard graduated from Central Washington in 2008, his head coach was also coaching here, and he asked Howard to come down and help out.

Howard wants his coaching style to be flexible and hands off, inspiring people and having them understand the tactics that they employ.

“I’m very much about the education of the athletes. I want them to understand why we’re doing what we’re doing,” Howard said. “I want them to like doing it, because that’s what makes them good athletes and makes them invest in the sport.”

Expect big things from the cross country team in the years to come.

“We’ve been going to state for the past few years,” Howard said. “I want to empower the leaders on this team to be successful.”

GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER


Head coach Sam Macca talks with the team during halftime against West Seattle on Oct. 22. “I want to create a legacy of girls wanting to be a part of this program,” Macca said. (0-5) (Skye McDonald)

Head coach Sam Macca talks with the team during halftime against West Seattle on Oct. 22. “I want to create a legacy of girls wanting to be a part of this program,” Macca said. (0-5) (Skye McDonald)

Sam Macca, the new girls soccer coach, is a veteran of the sport and has been playing for almost his entire life.

“I have played [soccer] for the past 47 years, and I got into it through a neighborhood friend,” Macca said. “I then played all through high school and college.”

It was Macca’s goal to play professional soccer, but like most aspiring athletes, these aspirations fell short.

“I was close,” Macca said. “It was my dream to go pro, but I never got a contract.”

So Macca moved on, graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in communications and creating a career in marketing. But as time went on, Macca grew to miss the coaching the sport.

“[My son] grew up playing soccer, and going to his games I never had the chance to coach,” Macca said. “So when my last job ended, and this opportunity came along, its something I have a passion for, and the timing was right.”

Macca considers his coaching style to be about patience and control, preferring to wear an opposing team down and be smart with the ball at their feet.

“Work hard, play hard,” Macca said. “We want to be similar to Barcelona, which is short passing and a lot of possession.”

So with a veteran now wearing the coach’s hat, the girls team is attempting to make a run this season.

“I want to create a legacy of girls wanting to be a part of this program,” said Macca. “There’s a real pride about our program.”

GIRLS SWIM


New swim coach Stephanie Cummings works with athletes during morning practice. “Swimming is a very personal sport. You have to be able to want it, and you have to be able to have the mental toughness to do it,” Cummings said.(Elliot Armitage)

New swim coach Stephanie Cummings works with athletes during morning practice. “Swimming is a very personal sport. You have to be able to want it, and you have to be able to have the mental toughness to do it,” Cummings said.

(Elliot Armitage)

Stephanie Cummings, the new girls swim coach, is hoping to restore glory to the swim team after last years unsuccessful record.

Cummings is implementing new drills and exercises in an attempt to fix a team that was plagued by injuries last season.

“This year, we gotta make sure that [the team] stays healthy, that they stay strong,” Cummings said. “So [I’m] changing up their training, their training regiment, and they’re dryland regiment to make sure they stay strong.”

Now, in addition to coaching the Ballard team, Cummings also coaches a club team, Team Hydra, and runs her own business, SC Fitness and Coaching. Cummings gives personal training, teaches swimming lessons, and hosts running clubs.

Cummings views her style as hands-off and that the swimmers drive to win is what really compels them.

“I give you the tools, I make sure you can use the tools correctly, and then it’s your job to actually use them,” Cummings said. “Swimming is a very personal sport. You have to be able to want it, and you have to be able to have the mental toughness to do it.”

With new leadership and improved training regiments, the girls swim team is looking to have a successful season.

“[Coaching] is about the next generation of swimmers, and letting them be in the limelight,” said Cummings. “It’s not about you anymore. It’s their name on the heat sheet not mine.”

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The new cross country, soccer and swim coaches