Aaron Stump is the new head coach of the Joplin High School boys swim team.
After spending nearly a decade as an assistant coach, Stump has made the transition to head coach for the 2022 season.
“I’m excited to be stepping into the head coaching role after nine years as an assistant coach in this sport,” Stump said. “Adding Juliana Hughes, the head girls coach, as our assistant boys coach will help bring this team to a new level.”
Joplin has four returning state qualifiers this fall.
“The guys are coming into this season with high expectations,” Stump said. “Many of them swim year-round, so their times have already improved from last season.”
Seniors Jacob Glenn and Zane Newman, junior Ian Vermillion and sophomore Nathan Wardlow qualified to last year’s state championships on three relays.
The foursome made up both the 200-yard freestyle and the 400 freestyle relays, while Wardlow, Newman and Glenn were also on Joplin’s qualifying 200 medley relay that also featured the graduated Wyatt Satterlee. The Eagles finished 26th in both the 400 free relay and the 200 medley relay and they were 32nd in the 200 free relay.
Wardlow also qualified for state in the 500 freestyle last fall, finishing 31st.
At last season’s conference meet, Newman was the champion in the 50 freestyle and took first in the 100 free. Wardlow was the runner-up in the 500 free and was fifth in the 200 free. Glenn was fifth in the 50 free and seventh in the 100 backstroke.
Improving on last year’s conference and state finishes is a main goal for the Eagles.
“I’m expecting big things from our team this season,” Stump said. “We should qualify multiple relays and individual events for state, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them swimming in the finals. Our team is experienced, has a strong work ethic, and they’re competitive. They know what they’re doing and what they need to do to accomplish their goals.”
Stump said sophomore Gideon Speer and freshmen Isaiah Thom and Jerrick Adams are promising newcomers.
As the season opener approaches, Stump is confident the Eagles will put together a stellar season as long as they make continued progress throughout the fall.
“We only lack one swimmer from last year’s medley relay, and I’ve already seen improvement from the group in our first few practices,” Stump said. “The guys will be competing to see who fills that slot as we begin the season, and I can see them starting out better than where we left off in the fall.”
