Swimming

Tim Hable

Tim brings to Hawken extensive experience and an impressive list of accomplishments as a swimming coach. Most recently, he served as head coach for Great Lakes Sailfish Swimming, volunteer assistant coach at Cleveland State University, and assistant coach for the Lake Erie Silver Dolphins. In prior years, he served as head coach at Case Western Reserve University and Shaker Recreation Swim Club as well as assistant coach at University Swim Club. A standout in each of these roles, Tim was named Lake Erie Swimming Inc. (LESI) Age Group Coach of the Year twice and Lake Erie Zone Team Assistant Coach six times. In addition to being the designated coach for the 2012 LESI Age Group Diversity Meet, he served as a coach at the 2014 USA National Diversity Camp and as an assistant coach at the 2017 Central Zone Select Camp.

A Hawken alumnus, Tim was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. At Hawken, he was a four-year All-American in both butterfly and individual medley and set school records in the 200 and 400 freestyle set in 1972. He was a member of the 1973 100 freestyle relay team that posted an undefeated season; he also placed 1^st in the 200 individual medley, 2^nd in the 100 freestyle, and 1^st in the 100 freestyle relay at the ISSL Championships, where he was crowned ISSL champion.Tim went on to swim for Dartmouth College, where he served as captain of the team and competed at the NCAAs.

Tim believes that the key to achieving success is creating a positive environment where each athlete feels connected and valued as a team member. “It is my desire and privilege to build on former Coach Jerry Holtrey’s legacy,” he comments. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead Hawken School and LESD with the goal of safeguarding and expanding their nationally recognized swim programs.”

Commitment to Excellence

Hawken Swimming’s long legacy of success is grounded in a commitment to excellence, to the development of scholar-athletes, and to the school’s motto of Fair Play. The team’s impressive list of distinctions spans decades and is a testament to its coaches, who know exactly what it takes to develop champions.

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Hawken coaches focus on a balance of individualized instruction/training and a commitment to character development. To maximize growth in these areas, coaches work to get to know each individual student.

Individualized training includes workouts designed for individual swimmers as well as attention to stroke mechanics. Coaches recognize that while there is a perfect stroke for each swimmer, there isn’t a single perfect stroke for all swimmers. They also recognize that different strokes (events) require varied approaches.

Endurance training and swimming have been the basis of Hawken’s success in the pool - a testament to our swimmers’ hard work and time commitment to their training. This has resulted in tremendous success in the endurance events at the high school level: Hawken boys and girls have won the 500 freestyle at the State Meet 20 times and the 200 freestyle 19 times, and Hawken girls have won the 400 free relay 20 times.
Strategy

Both individual and team goal-setting are critical to Hawken Swimming success. Coaches recognize that while swimming is an individual sport, commitment to the team is paramount. Individual success helps the team, but it is commitment to the team, both in daily routines and in competition rosters, that elevates everyone.

Hawken coaches plan for success at the highest levels, the District and State Meets. They focus on aligning individuals with the right stroke and event and are aware that carefully constructed relays are key to team success.

Dryland workouts have been integrated into the practice routine and are tailored specifically to each athlete’s needs or designed as group activities. These workouts build strength and endurance and also have a tertiary benefit: team-building.
Character

A commitment to character education is pervasive in all areas of student life at Hawken School, and swimming and diving are no exception. Both in and out of the pool, our coaches are committed to providing opportunities for our student-athletes to hone life-skills such as hard work, commitment, resilience, teaming skills, and problem-solving, as well as traits such as empathy, integrity, kindness, and excellence in sportsmanship. Above all, Hawken coaches, parents, and faculty work to foster strong citizens of our school and greater community.

Hawken Swimming Notable Achievements

31 team state championships: 28 girls, 3 boys
20 consecutive girls team state championships: an Ohio HS all-sport, all-division record and an open, ongoing streak
9 state runner-up finishes: 3 girls, 6 boys
56 top-five team finishes at States
53 team district championships, 36 girls, 17 boys – first title was 1976 boys
32 Chagrin Valley Conference championships since it began in 1996
88 individual and 52 relay state championship events won
A total of 140 events won at the state meet
350 top-four finishes in individual and relay events at the state meet
Scores of Olympic Trials qualifiers and All-Americans

Girls Team Highlights

Hawken girls have won the 400 free relay at states 20 times since its first win in 1984.

Hawken girls currently hold the Division II State Record in 5 of the 11 swimming events.

Renowned Athletes
Melanie Valerio ’87, Olympic Gold Medalist

Erica Rose ‘00, Open Water World Champion

Swimming News