After five long years of creating one of the tightest communities in Roosevelt sports, Coach Wheeler finally steps down. Not to worry, though—the swim team is in good hands!
Welcome Tim Lee, the new swim Coach! Coach Tim swam D1 at UC Santa Barbara for 4 years and became a team captain his senior year. He swam events such as the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. His skills are nothing to be scoffed at, with him making the top 10 list in the 100 butterfly! His humor and passion for the sport will surely make any swimmer feel a little more at home. I asked Tim some questions about his experience as a swimmer, his goals for himself and the team, and why he wanted to do it all in the first place.
Voices: Why did you want to be a coach?
Tim: Coaching was something I always wanted to do. I have been a swimmer my whole life and I have so much experience with the sport and nowhere to put my energy into it. Luckily for me, I was able to get involved as a coach for Roosevelt last year and fell in love with it!
Voices: What are your goals for this team?
Tim: The coaching staff made up of, Assistant Coach Ashley Joe, former head coach of five years Derrell Wheeler, and myself all share the same primary goal for this team which is to turn each swimmer that walks onto the deck into a water-safe, life-long swimmer. Our second goal and arguably most important goal is to have fun. Swimming is often painted as one of the most difficult sports but I think giving student-athletes a positive fun-filled swimming experience is what keeps them coming to the pool.
Voices: What do you love most about coaching?
Tim: For me, it’s the sense of accomplishment and excitement in student-athletes achieving the goals they set for themselves. Whether it’s diving off the blocks for the first time or making finals at state champs – being a part of those huge accomplishments and milestones makes it all worthwhile.
Voices: What do you love about swim?
Tim: Swimming is a unique sport like track where the results have a very direct correlation to the work you put in. I love being able to see direct results. It’s been said that hard work never goes unrewarded, and I think that holds very true for this sport. I also love that anyone can do this sport, which is available for people of all sizes, backgrounds, ages, and abilities. Literally anyone can learn how to swim and enjoy all that it can be.
Voices: What is your favorite part of high school swimming?
Tim: I think having a swim team is such a special thing for a high school to have. There’s a social aspect to it that puts the focus on supporting each other. You get to compete and challenge and push members of your own team even in competition. No one is trying to take anyone’s roster spot. I think the Roosevelt swim team especially has such a great culture of inclusivity and positivity. It is a bit of a breath of fresh air compared to California where I’m from; the high school swimming scene is far more cutthroat and has much more influence from swimmers who are on club teams. This can take the focus away from the successes of the non-club swimmers and I don’t get that feeling here.
Voices: What motivates you to swim?
Tim: I’m a water guy through and through. It’s the sport with some of the best longevity. Now that I’m a washed-up salty dog my goals have shifted from chasing time standards and national championships to maintaining my physical and mental health which is something swimming brings me. Being faster than Ben (editor’s note: wow coach) also motivates me to swim .
Tim coming in takes the already strong swim community and invigorates a new passion and tradition to it. New and old swimmers are sure to love him and the coaching staff as they support them through the season!
