The torch has been passed, now it’s up to Robert Sandy to keep it lit. The list of great Washington swimmers is a long one that includes names like Charles Pfeiffer, Brandon Neiderhauser and Luke Harris.
By being named a co-captain of the Washington swim team this season Sandy inherits the role of guardian of the Pam Pack legacy and it is a job he does not take lightly.
“I feel like since I’m the captain the harder I push my team the harder I’m going to have to push myself,” Sandy said. “So pushing the team is going to push me. I have to work with the guys to help them get there times up. And if they start catching up to me, which a lot of them already have, then I have to push myself harder to win.”
If it seems like Sandy has this captain thing down pat already, it’s because he’s learned from some great ones.
“Brandon Neiderhauser was an incredible swimmer and I really looked up to him in the water, and Charles Pfeiffer as well,” Sandy said. “Luke Harris last year was a really great captain. I was really close with Luke. We’ve been on the team together forever and it’s a little bittersweet to swim with him his senior year (last season) and to have to come back without him.”
Sandy, who co-captains the boys’ team with fellow senior Daniel Crozier, has been on the varsity squad since he was a freshman and has reached state the last three years.
“I’ve seen Robert grow a lot since his freshman year. He’s probably the guy with the most experience on the team,” Washington coach Spencer Pake said. “He has great leadership, the guys look up to him. He’s swam at the state level all three years and he’s just one of those guys that will give you his all. He’s driven to do the best he can do.”
Last season Sandy competed in the 400-yard freestyle relay, the 200-yard medley relay team, the 200-freestyle relay team and the 50-yard freestyle at state and placed 10th, 20th, 12th and 22nd, respectively.
This year, Sandy will competing in more sprint races and said he is excited about the opportunity.
“My favorite is the 50 freestyle because it’s so exciting,” Sandy said. “It goes so quick and you just go in and put it all out there. The 100 is so much more of a challenge because it’s that times two.”
Sandy said his goal, like every swimmer, is to shave down time.
“I would really like to get 21 (seconds) in the 50 freestyle and like a 48 in the 100. That’s my dream,” Sandy said. “I just don’t know. I’m going to train really hard and if I want those goals I’m going to have to push myself.”
Pake said with the right work ethic anything is possible this season.
“The sky’s the limit,” Pake said. “It all depends on what kind of effort he wants to put in at practice. So far, what I’ve seen from him he’s ready to put in that effort.”