When the winds of change suddenly shift in an instant, teams can let it distract them and fester throughout the collective performance through the season, or they can go with the flow and let it ride. The H-K girls’ swimming and diving program took the latter option for the 2024 squad, and it has paid off in spades.

With Head Coach Alison Karam and assistant coach Steve Cusano, the 2023 Cougars and their dozen varsity swimmers amassed seven triumphs in nine regular-season meets. Then, at the Class S State Championships on Nov. 15 at Southern Connecticut State University, H-K posted a 15th-place finish with 136 points for the evening.

This season, Karam and the Cougars are back as a Shoreline co-op squad that includes athletes from Valley Regional, Old Lyme, and Old Saybrook high schools. Karam explained that the announcement came suddenly, as the Cougars were making their last preseason preparations, but they did not resist the shift and took an open mind to the change.

“The biggest key moment came in late August, three days before H-K’s first scheduled practice, when we learned we were going to be a co-op team. There are two ways to go with that kind of surprise, and we embraced it,” said Karam. “We have had some close meets, including beating the Windsor Locks Co-Op by just two points, and we have a 4-0 record for the start of our swim season. It’s a whole new world with four high schools coming together as one. But the girls are blending beautifully as a swim family. I’m incredibly proud of how well they get along and support each other.”

Senior captains this year for the Cougars are Liv Macaluso, Olivia Campo, and Sofia Campo. Macaluso has already qualified for states in butterfly, backstroke, freestyle, and the 200 IM (Individual Medley). Olivia Campo had her first state championship experience last year, swimming the 200 Individual Medley for H-K. Sofia Campo, meanwhile, has her specialty in the 100 breaststroke, which she has swum on state championship relays. Last year, she also swam on the 200 freestyle relay team in states.

“Liv is a calm, poised, positive, lead-by-example team leader. She is a scholar-athlete and strong supporter of her teammates and coaches. Butterfly is her specialty, but every year, she has made automatic qualifying times for states in multiple events,” said Karam. “Olivia is as much a ‘captain of the social-emotional,’ as she is a team leader in the pool. She is incredibly supportive of her teammates and is always looking out for their physical and emotional well-being. Sofia is a blend of leadership qualities both in and out of the pool. She is supportive of her teammates and helps in team practices. She is the voice who sings our National Anthem at home meets.”

Karam added that being appointed a captain is merely not some title to add to a college resume. It is an entire undertaking that truly involves bringing the team together and getting it out in the community of H-K.

“My philosophy on team leadership is that being a team captain is not a reward, it's a responsibility,” said Karam. “A lot of work goes into planning all the fun activities that help the team bond and create lifelong memories, which include pasta dinners, a team sleepover, bake sales, spirit wear, and big sister-little sister swimmer matchups. There is also our swim meet challenge with swim team vs. H-K football, which has become a popular annual fundraiser for breast cancer research.”

Additional standout competitors this year from the co-op include Valley Regional athletes in junior Bethany Erkkila, along with freshmen Phoebe Spallone, and Claire Johnson. Erkkila is a 2024 state qualifying diver and freestyler but contributes for the relay runs. Spallone as a freshman has already swum a personal best time in the 100-yard backstroke, which qualified her for state championships. Johnson has already qualified for states in butterfly, backstroke, and the 200 IM.

“When the Shoreline Co-Op was formed this year, I was surprised and thrilled to learn we had gained a diver with Bethany. She is an all-in team player who is committed to being part of the team, willing to both swim and dive. She has filled in relay spots as needed and has a beautiful freestyle,” said Karam. “Phoebe is a strong freestyle and backstroke swimmer with great potential. As a freshman, she has already swum a personal best time in the 100-yard backstroke, which qualified her for states. Claire specializes in butterfly and backstroke. This is her freshman year, and I see great potential in her future.”

Hailing from H-K is Olive Forristall, a sophomore who reached states in the breaststroke as a freshman. Another H-K representative is junior Maggie Miller, who will be in states for the 100 freestyle and took part in the 500 freestyle in 2023 as a rookie freshman. Sophomore Gianna Dabkowski (also of H-K) is geared to make the postseason in the freestyle events, and classmate Elsa Shatraw has notched new high marks in the 200 freestyle.

“Olive is an excellent breaststroker. She has the stamina to finish strong in the 100 breaststroke and moves up on other swimmers in the 200 IM,” said Karam. “Maggie is like the energizer bunny of distance swimming, and yet she’s versatile enough to do the sprints. She is rounding out all of her strokes and is proving to be a great sprinter as well as a long-distancer. Gianna is a fierce competitor whom we thought might be sidelined for the season due to a shoulder injury. She is as goal-driven as an athlete can be. She’s already won a 50-freestyle event this year and is determined to make states. Elsa is a long-distance freestyle and backstroke swimmer. She has a long, smooth power stroke and has already swum two personal best times this year in the 200 freestyle and 50-backstroke leadoff on the medley relay.”

Karam explained that the girls of course want to enhance their abilities, as they wind down the dual-meet portion of the campaign and prep for the postseason. But more importantly, she wants them to truly immerse themselves in the waters of high school swimming and garner all the life skills that come with the waves.

“Our goals are that we hope our swimmers will continue to bond as a team while they get stronger, faster, and improve their stroke technique,” said Karam. “They will learn that the mark of a great swimmer isn’t just what they do in the pool, but it’s what they take with them out of the pool. They will take away the true value of the sport, which is the discipline, confidence, and can-do mindset that becomes part of who they are in their everyday lives. They will also have fun. These girls work hard, swim hard, overcome challenges, go with the flow, laugh, cry, eat, sing, and have fun together. They support each other, and share experiences they'll remember forever.”

This is Karam’s seventh year as head coach at H-K. The assistant coach is Steve Cusano, who is in his fourth year as the assistant coach with the Cougars.

The Shoreline Co-Op 2024 roster consists of seniors Olivia Campo (of H-K), Sofia Campo (H-K), Macaluso (H-K), Veronica Pypa (H-K); juniors Miller (H-K), Rose Dimmock (Old Lyme), Alexandria Dziebel (Old Saybrook), Erkkila (Valley), Emma Wakelee (Old Saybrook); sophomores Dabkowski (H-K), Forristall (H-K), Sophia Langer (H-K), Shatraw (H-K), Elena Abbott (H-K); plus freshmen Aria Cummings (H-K), Lauren Thebeau (H-K), Madeline Cummins (Old Lyme), Kinsley Grenier (Old Lyme), Johnson (Valley), and Spallone (Valley).

2024 Shoreline Co-Op Girls’ Swimming and Diving Remaining Regular Season Schedule

Sept. 17: Shoreline Co-Op 93, Ledyard 76

Sept. 26: Shoreline Co-Op 86, Windsor Locks Co-Op 84

Oct. 4: Shoreline Co-Op 96, Suffield 65

Oct. 8: Shoreline Co-Op 95, Waterford 81

Tuesday, Oct. 22: vs. Ledyard-St.Bernard at 4 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 25: at Plainville at 4 p.m.