When you live in Marblehead, you’ve got to learn how to swim. Susan Guertin believes so, and has been coaching at the high school since 1988.
She loves children, and swimming, so it’s perfect.
“I’m the luckiest woman alive,” Guertin said. “I love to see kids make progress in the water.”
Marblehead won the Division 2 state championship this past winter. From Guertin to her swimmers, they all had “the bug” to obsess.
“I love the high school team because they’re enthusiastic,” Guertin said. “They love their school and it’s kind of a community thing. They’re representing their town.”
She believes swimming can be a life sport for individuals, and a community one for groups. Look no further than her student-athletes.
“It’s a lot of fun. They have team dinners, they pick great captains every year, and some of them turn out to be lifeguards,” Guertin said. “It just all fits in.”
It starts a lot earlier than high school, however. Guertin also teaches at the YMCA, and has seen generations of children discover the sport she loves.
“If you live around here, everybody has to learn how to swim. There’s just no choice about it,” Guertin said. “I see kids that are really enthusiastic about the water. It’s just a thrill for me to see kids progress and love swimming.”
And once they’re in, everyone is different according to Guertin. Some are frigid, while others were born to make a splash.
“Another child, you can just dunk them and they come up laughing,” Guertin said.
Before teaching proper form, breathing, or other fundamentals, the first thing Guertin stresses is the right mindset.
“They just have to feel comfortable in the water,” Guertin said. “It’s about the feeling that the water is going to hold them up.”
One of her favorite parts of swimming is how everyone’s involved. Some are there to compete, others to stay fit, and more to have fun. Another, is that she gets to see people grow with the sport.
“It’s really funny to have parents come back that swam with me, and I see that so many times,” Guertin said. “That’s such a good thing about the sport, and it’s kept me in it for so long.”
Literally and figuratively, as it’s hard to find a time when Guertin isn’t swimming.
“I swim every day of my life,” Guertin said. “It’s peaceful, and when your face is in the water, you just plan your whole day. Nobody’s bothering you or asking questions.”
And when she’s not in the pool, she’s gardening – 1,000 daffodils at her house included. Her love for both hobbies intersects.
“That (gardening) is another joy for me because you see something developing, just like swimming,” Guertin said.
Professionally, she’ll “probably” have to retire someday. Regardless of when, she’ll go with a special legacy left behind.
“My joy is to give back to others. That’s kind of my whole thing,” Guertin said. “Giving back to the town and the youth – that’s what I love.”
