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09/13/2017 12:00 AMMary Kate Almeida has made quite a splash in the world of swimming. Now, Mary Kate is continuing her career where it started as she recently began her first season as head coach of the Haddam-Killingworth girls’ swimming and diving squad.
Mary Kate, a Haddam native who lives in Westbrook, swam at H-K for four years before graduating in 2007. She then began her coaching career in 2010 with the Cougars Aquatic Team, a youth swimming organization. Mary Kate went on to serve as an assistant coach for both H-K swim teams two years ago and, after accepting a teaching position in special education at H-K High School, Mary Kate takes over as the new head coach of the Cougars’ girls’ swimming and diving team this fall.
“I had been coaching for a while, and I had known [H-K Athletic Director Lynne Flint] for four years,” Mary Kate says. “The previous coach had left, and Lynne reached out to me, and I said I’d love to apply for it. I was very lucky to have the position open up after I took the teaching job here.”
Mary Kate strongly emphasizes both sides of the equation when it comes to her swimmers being student-athletes. As far as what she wants to see in the water, Mary Kate is looking for growth from every one of her swimmers as they strive toward picture-perfect forms that will help them record solid times.
“It’s important for me to instill to them dedication in the pool, but also with school, because they are students first. I want to make sure they put as much effort as they can in both,” says Mary Kate. “Swimming is a really independent sport. It involves a lot of time with people trying to improve themselves. From the beginning to the end of the season, it’s amazing to see their growth.”
Mary Kate was just brought aboard last month, and so H-K’s athletes haven’t had a ton of time to adjust to life with their new coach. However, the Cougars are working hard to make up for lost time, and Mary Kate says that they’re a close-knit, welcoming bunch.
“This is a group of fantastic girls. They are warm, sweet, and very kind. They are willing to listen to me and have accepted me with open arms,” she says. “I was hired in August, so it’s been a big transition for them, but they’ve handled it well.”
Athletic Director Flint feels that having a program alum as head coach is a big plus, especially someone like Mary Kate, because Flint knows that she takes a great deal of pride in coaching at her alma mater.
“We are very lucky to have Mary Kate return to the high school as a swim coach and teacher,” says Flint. “She is an excellent coach and cares deeply for the swim program as an H-K alum. She is an accomplished swimmer herself, and I look forward to working with her again.”
In terms of her targets for the team, Mary Kate is focusing on her athletes’ personal objectives, as opposed to the Cougars’ win-loss record or any postseason achievements. As the 2017 campaign gets underway, Mary Kate feels ecstatic to give back to a program that provided such an awesome experience when she was the one competing.
“I want to see growth in the swimmers and see them achieve their goals. I want to see them make it to states, but if they reach their own goals, then my goals are met as a coach. It’s not necessarily all about winning championships,” Mary Kate says. “I am a Cougar at heart, and it really is amazing to get the chance to work with the girls here in another capacity besides teaching. We get to see each other in a different light.”