Pacific Index

Pacific’s swim sees new leadership 

   Walking into the humid aquatic center is where Coach Waterstreet feels the most at home. Having spent over 15 years as a swim coach, he feels prepared to take on the challenge of head coach for Pacific’s swim team. 

   Starting off this season with a sudden coaching change was not the way Pacific swimmers envisioned this year. When Pacific’s former head coach unexpectedly took a different job, the team was left in a panic with their first meet approaching that same week. Fortunately, Pacific’s swim Assistant Coach, Tabor Waterstreet, took the lead for the Boxers and eventually earned the role of interim head coach for the remainder of this season. 

   Waterstreet is a local from Forest Grove and has spent his time here coaching various teams. Before he began coaching, Waterstreet started his swimming journey at the age of six years old, and immediately fell in love with it. He then swam competitively in high school and also participated in other sports throughout his years. Now, he still engages in swimming, surfing, triathlons, yoga, and strength training. As a coach, Waterstreet strives to use his background and experiences to help people be the best they can be. 

   “Activity makes the world a better place,” Coach Waterstreet shared. Activity is a huge part of his life and he works to help others with their active journeys. This approach is visible throughout his coaching career and remains a motivation for his step-up to head coach this year.

   Taking the interim head coaching position for Pacific’s swim team has left him excited for what’s to come. “I was very honored to take the position,” Waterstreet said with a smile. He has been an assistant coach for Pacific’s swim program for five years, and has spent a lot of time with the athletes. “I have run a lot of the practices for the team,” he explained. “I also have run the strength and conditioning workouts, skills training, and yoga sessions.” Since the team has known him previously it makes the transition of a new head coach that much easier. “We already have a solid bond together,” Waterstreet shared.

   In addition to being the assistant coach for Pacific’s swim team, Coach Waterstreet has spent the past 15 years coaching the swim team at Forest Grove High School. He has not only coached the team, but has increased the amount of athletes who have joined the program. “When I started out coaching with the high school program it was very low numbers, and over the years I have built it up to having about 35 to 40 swimmers every year,” Waterstreet explained. When talking about his plans for Pacific, he hopes to use his experience building other programs and do the same to this one. 

   “I do have experience building a program, and I am prepared to do that here at Pacific,” Waterstreet explained. His experience building Forest Grove High School’s swim team and water polo team gives him the confidence to take on the challenge. Pacific swim is a very small program numbers wise, and this leads to losing meets because of the lack of points. Building the program is essential if Pacific wants to win.

   Looking towards the future, he hopes to continue as the head coach for Pacific’s swim team. “Hopefully the effort that I am putting in, the effort of the kids, and the success of the program will give me the boost to be able to take this on full time moving forward,” Waterstreet offered. He has plans for the future of the program, and plans to create a stronger team over the next couple of years. Waterstreet is also very excited about hopefully helping Pacific get its own pool. He shared that having a specific competition pool will increase the level of competition for the team and potentially bring in more student athletes to the program. It could also double as a use for recovery, cross training, and fun swims for other teams at Pacific. 

   “I am really stoked to be here,” Waterstreet concluded. His enthusiasm for the athletes and Pacific’s swim program is undeniable. He is excited about what will be in the future and can’t wait to see where this position leads him, as well as the swim team.