New BSC Article in the Barrington Courier Review
New coach Emary revitalizes Barrington Swim Club
Joining a new team can be a demanding transition for a head coach, but everything went right for Rob Emary in his first summer on the job.
The Barrington Swim Club head coach was hired to bring a winning attitude to a team that had been lacking in that area, and he did just that.
“I think that the rapid progress that the team made this summer really solidified, in my mind, that the potential I saw on paper is really present in the community,” Emary said. “It solidified the system we are all working to get in place to raise Barrington Swim Club up to that next level and keep it there for an extended period of time.”
A New York native, Emary, 43, swam at Wheaton College and became an 18-time All-American and the 1988 NCAA D-III champion in the 200 butterfly. He began coaching club teams at age 15 as a way to help pay for his lessons.
Over the past five years, BSC had not finished in the top 10 at the Age Group Championships. But in July, it overcame its recent history.
Last summer, BSC could not muster up more than 100 points at the meet, but in Wisconsin this year, it amassed 641.5 points on its way to an eighth-place finish.
In BSC’s top event of the competition — the 400-meter medley relay — Colin O’Leary, Max Gersten, Andrew Fish and Will Hobbs swam to a Illinois record of 4:44.95.
The boys’ top time was a good example of how Emary molded his team from when first joining to the end of summer.
“Overall, the team was right at 92-percent best times on average for the entire season, with 97-percent best times at the end of the season,” Emary said. “I think the kids did a great job consistently improving and working to get better. I always tell the kids that I am not the magic here, they are.”
BSC continued its impressive streak with a good showing at the Central Zone Championships in Indianapolis in early August.
Ally Penrod grabbed first place in the 50 and 100 breaststroke. Kirsten Jacobsen set team records in both the 50 and 100 freestyles, finishing fifth and third, respectively.
Those accomplishments likely could not have been made without the support staff surrounding Emary.
“I don’t think I could have asked for a better reception from the team, athletes, parents and support staff; they have all been wonderful in supporting some sweeping changes to the program,” Emary said. “I am very appreciative of their ability to receive change, adapt to it, and implement it into our new culture of excellence at Barrington Swim Club.”
Even with Emary turning the club around as quickly as he has, he still has set his sights at the top for his swimmers.
“At some point, I want to see one of the athletes from this program going off the blocks on TV at the Olympic Games,” Emary said. “I know this is raising the bar really high, but I know there is a kid out there either currently on the team, or who will be on the team in the future, who will have the right mix of physical and mental tools to make it happen.”
Before having any of his kids turn into the next Michael Phelps, Emary will have to prepare his athletes for a busy lead-up to the spring.
“I think because we were so successful we all need to take a good hard look in the mirror and look for places to improve,” Emary said. “For the team to advance into the top five at the March Championships, as well as qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this summer, we will all have to take it to a new and much higher level in training and racing.”
