Coach Don Gibb
August 2020 represents many important milestones for me personally. My wife, Gena, and I celebrate thirty-five years of marriage. Together, we started life together in Nashville, Tennessee, where I had accepted my first full-time coaching gig as Head Age Group Coach for Nashville Aquatic Club. I have spent thirty-five years dedicated to the sport of swimming and it’s been a great ride.
Between then and now, I’ve enjoyed mentoring and challenging hundreds of swimmers to push beyond their own perceived limitations and realize their dreams at places like the University of Florida, Florida State University, The University of South Carolina, The University of Kentucky, Daytona State College and finally at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida, on the campus of South Lake Hospital.
It is here in Clermont at the NTC where I have been blessed to have worked with a Senior level squad that has grown up together both in and out of the pool. Just like the old lead into ABC’s Wide World of Sports, these young people have enjoyed both the “Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat”… TOGETHER.
2020
The beauty of a sport like competitive swimming is that you get out of it what you put into it and things do not always go as planned. You can train for months upon months only to gain tenths of a second in improvement. It is not a game. You stare at the bottom of a pool enduring the burn of hard efforts, over and over again. There is no such thing as luck in our sport. You get what you deserve, what you have earned in the pool and in the weight room, and most importantly, in those five inches between your ears.
This past March is our Seniors’ most recent example of having to deal with adversity as we were literally warming up at our facility preparing to go and compete at our season-end championship meet down at the YMCA on International Drive. We were fit, we were prepared, and we were hungry to race and compete. But as fate would have it, we got a call just before heading to the venue, COVID 19 had reared its ugly head and become too threatening to have several hundred athletes and spectators congregate under one roof. The meet was canceled and there were no plans to reschedule. The virus destroyed many hopes and dreams that day. Little did everyone know at the time but there would be no prom, no graduation, and no swimming for the next three months. Living indoors would be our new reality, as a TEAM, and these athletes would learn a powerful life lesson, “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.”
NTC Aquatics has a core group of seven high school seniors this year who have impacted my life not only as a coach, but as an adult who is concerned about our future leadership and the direction of this country. This group has given me hope that our future will be led by individuals like this team who have experienced challenges, committed to the betterment of the team, sacrificed daily in order to reap a long term benefit and to go beyond the expectations of their peers.
The Seniors Benjamin Stark, Kort Williams, Jake Moretti, Hope Horgeshimer, Jay Kelly, Isaiah Ramsey, Caden D’Aoust)
Here are those seven seniors and what they mean to me:
Caden D’Aoust, aka the “Gentle Giant”, “Condiment Crusader”, “Barracuda” is one of the Screamin’ Eagles from South Lake High School. Caden has a strong, powerful build which helped him become one of the fastest swimmers in SLHS history. A butterfly and freestyle specialist, Caden would compete in some of the most competitive races in our sport, the sprints. His mild manner and cynical sense of humor always kept the mood light when practice was tough and when it came to racing, Caden was “in it to win it”. My favorite memory of Caden is chatting during a long van ride from a meet in Tallahassee where we talked about family, future goals and dreams, food (my personal favorite), and sports. While he doesn’t let on at swim practice, Caden is a deep thinker and has a very mature outlook on life. Caden has chosen to remain a water creature and pursue a career as an underwater welder. A perfect fit for a young man who has spent a significant portion of his life wet!
Hope Horgeshimer, a senior from Lake Minneola High School was a fierce competitor throughout the years. She enjoyed success at the State and National level through her junior year then was hampered by various injuries during her senior campaign. Regardless of any setback, Hope would show up with a smile and an effort. Her ability to give the guys a hard time is what I remember most about Hope. She would take no “stuff” from her male counterparts either in or out of the pool. A brilliant student with several academic options, she has selected Florida Atlantic University as her gateway to the future.
Jay Kelly, a senior from West Orange High School in Winter Garden, was a late bloomer in our sport. During his junior year, Jay broke through both physically and as a racer. His ability to “turn on the jets” was no more apparent than in the Regional High School Championship where he won the 100 butterfly and was ranked first going into the State Championships. One of three Kelly brothers in our program, Jay is an intelligent, witty, BBQ smokin’, UGA Bulldog cheering, all-around great young man. I enjoyed our banter about the SEC, Dawgs vs Gators, and “when is he going to be fast enough to beat his coach’s old times from the ’80s?”. His self- confidence will surely lead to a successful career and life beyond the pool. Jay has chosen Florida State University to begin his new chapter.
Jake Moretti, a senior from East Ridge High School was a two- time finalist at the Florida High School State Championships in the 100 Breaststroke. Known not only as a gifted athlete but as a talented singer and student, his handsome appearance yet humble and kind demeanor made him popular with all his teammates. Jake battled his way through chronic shoulder pain and performed at a very high level in his last two years. His combination of character and work ethic resulted in his selection as East Ridge High Schools’ Male Athlete of the Year this year. My fondest memories of Jake will be giving him the business about FSU. (I was a Gator but coached the ‘Noles for seven years). He is a kind soul and a friend to all he meets.
Isaiah Ramsey, a senior from South Lake High School, is our other Screamin’ Eagle. Isaiah was a late bloomer in our sport as was evidenced by his nickname “Skinny Man”. Through consistent hard work and determination both in and out of the pool, Isaiah became one of our best training athletes and a versatile competitor. His willingness to swim any event at any time, made him a “go-to” member of our squad. Also interested in a career in the military, Isaiah was a member of Air Force ROTC at SLHS. His discipline as both a student and an athlete is sure to take him far. Isaiah’s big smile and positive outlook will be my lasting memory of him (as well as his Dad’s Ghost Pepper Sauce aka “Kenny’s Ketchup”). Isaiah will be attending Florida Atlantic University this fall.
Ben Stark, a senior from Lake Minneola High School, is one of three Stark siblings at the NTC. Ben is known for his daily dose of humor and constant quotes of his favorite cinematic star, Austin Powers. His excellence in the classroom as well as his determination in the pool have earned him a scholarship to Norwich University in Vermont (the birthplace of the ROTC) where is sure to be a leader in and out of the pool. My fondest memories of Ben are watching him grind during workouts in the long events that most people shy away from. While they may not be his favorites, he never hesitated to face a distance challenge head-on and with a smile no less. His toughness will stay with him and aid in his plan to become an officer in the United States Navy.
Kort Williams, a senior from Lake Minneola High School has been a great success story. Having joined our group a relatively short time ago, Kort quickly worked his way up to the senior level as a dedicated distance man. Kort is both meticulous and very orderly in both his thoughts and his actions. Hard work and determination helped him enjoy some of the most exciting mile races that I have seen over the last few decades. Yet another brilliant student who swims, Kort will be attending Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne this fall majoring in Aerospace Engineering. My favorite memory of Kort was the look on his face when he realized he dropped over a minute in the 1500 meter freestyle in Fort Pierce at the Senior Championships one summer. Kort is a kind young man who is hard on himself but eager to please others. These traits will surely lead to a successful life’s journey.
This outstanding group of high school seniors will forever be etched in my memory as a group, a team, a unit, that truly cared about each other both in and out of the water. These young people are of the highest moral and ethical character and compete for the highest stakes on a daily basis. They are friends, teammates, competitors, and in my opinion…WINNERS. So many memories were shared on the road, in training, in competition, and just hanging TOGETHER. I believe they will remain friends for a lifetime.
To The Families
Equally as important as the athletes’ camaraderie, the parents were all a tremendous support system to the team as well. Throughout this journey, our parents were generous with their time, energy, and enthusiasm. We traveled together, worked side by side at meets, and cheered these kids on collectively. Their love and support of our program made this program unique. Whether we celebrated fast swims and birthdays, or mourned the loss of a loved one, TOGETHER we shared these special memories and I am forever grateful for that.
As a coach, I always looked forward to sharing a few hours with these young people. They kept me motivated, inspired, and thankful for the opportunity to share a small part of their lives. The joy of seeing them grow up physically, mentally, and competitively is the reason I coach. This group will forever be in my heart as members of my family and I am proud to be called their coach.
Fight on Seniors! Remember: Compared to swimming, life will be just another challenging workout to conquer. You’ve all been down that road, crush it like have so many times before!!!
