Englewood High School was established in 1913, but it wasn’t until nearly 60 years later, in 1972, that the Englewood Girls Swimming program officially began. After Title IX, a federal law ensuring equal athletic opportunities for girls in schools was passed, Ruth Nisbet, a former PE teacher, started the swim and dive team and was the original head coach. Englewood High School’s pool, built in 1967, originally had eight lanes and two diving boards. There was already a boys’ swim & dive team before the girls’ team was introduced.
The current head coach, Tracy Lonn, joined the team in 2000-2001, her first year at EHS, as an assistant coach under Ruth Nisbet. Lonn was her assistant for 5 years until she retired, and then Lonn was hired as the head coach for the 2005 to 2006 season, and has been the head coach ever since, which means that in over 50 years of the Girls Swim Team, there have been only two head coaches.
Throughout the years of girls’ swimming, notable people include Lisa Black, in 2006, went to State in the IM (Individual Medley), placed 13th in the state and Backstroke, and placed 4th.
Coach Lonn says entering her 21st season feels kind of wild, “Some days I still feel like a rookie coach, but I love interacting with the girls in a way that’s separate from being their teacher. And having those kinds of different relationships with them.”
Junior Ryan Lighthill, team captain, loves swimming, “it’s an easy way to get exercise, and I get to meet a lot of great people.” She says her goal is to be the best teammate possible: “My goal as team captain this year is to be a role model for my teammates and to encourage new swimmers to show up, do their best, and have fun.”
