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05/04/2017 12:00 AMMac Coppes has logged many miles as a swimmer for Old Saybrook High School throughout the past three years. Mac displayed steadfast dedication regardless of who he was training alongside during that time, and he wound up making a major splash in his final appearance at states.
Mac, a senior at Old Saybrook, started swimming in middle school and began competing for the Rams in his sophomore year of high school. Since Old Saybrook doesn’t have its own boys’ swimming and diving team for the regular season, Mac trained and competed with Haddam-Killingworth, East Lyme, and Hand during his sophomore, junior, and senior years, respectively.
Mac narrowly missed making the All-State Team at last year’s Class S State Championship, but came back to make it in two events by posting a pair of victories at the 2017 state meet. Mac won the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.99 seconds, which was just 0.10 seconds faster than the runner-up; and he also took first in the 100 freestyle by swimming a 49.43, edging out the second-place finisher by 0.03 seconds. Matt scored 60 points on behalf of Old Saybrook with these victorious performances.
“It meant a lot to win those titles at states, especially since I got fourth last year, and you need to finish third or better for All-State. I was also amazed with the slim margins between the top times,” says Mac, who was also on the Shoreline Conference champion boys’ soccer team last fall and plays tennis for the Rams in the spring. “The morning of states, I was pretty nervous because I expected so much of myself. While I was getting ready, I was getting help from [fellow Old Saybrook swimmer Will Brodeur]. He was giving me pep talks near the starting blocks. It was a goal of mine to win both events, so I was very relieved afterwards.”
Although Mac was a traveling man who worked with a different coaching staff in each of the past three seasons, he says that all three of them played a pivotal role in his progression as a swimmer and the road to those two state titles.
“My first year, I had some great coaches that really helped me keep going along the way,” Mac says. “I was pushed really strongly, as well, by my coaches during my junior year, and I had great coaches this season.”
Old Saybrook Athletic Director Mike Cunningham recalls that Mac had quite the cheering section at the State Championship. With his athletic ability, humility, and sportsmanship, Mac has become a big-time fan favorite among the Rams’ faithful.
“Mac has been so humble in his accolades this year. He played an important role with the boys’ soccer team in its Shoreline championship and state runner-up season and dedicated himself to the pool this winter in capturing the Class S state championship [for the 50 and 100 freestyles],” says Cunningham. “Swimming for Old Saybrook as a team-of-one isn’t an ideal situation for any athlete, but Mac’s hard work and determination catapulted him into what was an awesome day for both he and his family. It was great to see the support from his peers. Mac had over 15 people at Wesleyan University cheering him on, which is a testament to the kind of student-athlete Mac is.”
The last few years were both a physical and mental test for Mac with him venturing to different schools for his practices and meets. Still, everything worked out perfectly in the end for Mac, who authored a storybook finish to his high school swimming career.
“It took a lot of focus in the pool and focusing on one specific thing each day. I just tried to leave everything in the pool every day,” says Mac, who thanks Brodeur, along with all of his swimming coaches throughout high school. “High school swimming has been great. It taught me a lot about being on my own and meeting new people. It definitely helped me with discipline and overall fitness for soccer and tennis. I realized that sometimes you have to set the bar higher than you can reach and that this results in achieving more than you thought you were capable of.”