Swimming

Swim Program (Boys' & Girls') FAQs

The following questions and answers introduce you to the swimming program at Blair. These questions are often raised by prospective students who are considering the swim team at Blair Academy.

When does the swim season begin/end?
The swim season begins two days after the conclusion of the fall sports season; this is usually about November 15. The season ends about February 18 with the state prep meet.

Is experience necessary?
Although most of the students who come out for the team have had competitive swimming experience at either the club, age-group or high-school level, there are others who have had no formal competitive experience. However, those who lack competitive experience have a strong interest and ability in recreational swimming.

What is the general make-up of the team?
Usually, there are about 28 swimmers equally divided between girls and boys.

How are practices organized?
Boys and girls work out as a single team with the most experienced swimmers in one lane and beginners in another. Each lane has an individualized workout matched to the ability and stroke capabilities of the swimmers in that lane.

How hard are the workouts?
The team works out for about 100 minutes per day, six days a week. The most experienced swimmers swim about 5,000 yards per day and beginners about 3,500 yards.

Are there morning workouts?
No. You will need your sleep after a full "Blair day."

How many dual meets are there during the season?
There are about 10 dual meets during the season. Depending on the number of swimmers, the boys and girls swim as separate teams in dual meets; in these meets, boys' and girls' events alternate.

What type of championship meets are available?
Near the end of the season, we compete in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) tournament. The season concludes for most of the team with the state prep swimming championships held in mid-February. The Eastern Interscholastic Swimming Championship for both girls and boys takes place at the end of February; this meet is held at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania
and includes the top prep school swimmers in the eastern United States.

What is the general ability of the swimmers on the team?
The ability of the swimmers varies dramatically from year to year. To view the school's records, click the "School Records" tab above. To view the team's past results, click the "Past Results" tab above.

How can I find out more about the swimming program at Blair?
Please feel free to contact head coach Annie Gardner. He would be delighted to speak with prospective students or meet with them during a campus visit.

Meet Coach Gardner

Annie Gardner was appointed the head water polo coach and head swimming coach in 2023. Previously, she served as Blair’s assistant girls’ crew coach from 2021-2023. Before that, she was the head coach of the Austin Rowing Club juniors program from 2018-2020. As an athlete, she was varsity award winner at The Lawrenceville School in water polo, swimming and crew, captaining all those teams her senior year. She later went on to Dartmouth College and was a four-year varsity rower and team captain. She and her husband, Steve, reside at Lake House, which is adjacent to the Siegel Property.

Contact Coach Gardner at gardna@blair.edu with any questions.

Meet Coach Wilson

Caroline Wilson joined the admission office in 2013 after receiving her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. At Williams, Caroline was a member of the varsity swim team, where in addition to being named the NCAA Division III swimmer of the year in 2013, she was a 13-time Division III National Champion and a seven-time Division III NCAA national record holder. In addition to working in the admission office and teaching Advanced Placement Psychology at Blair, Caroline coaches the varsity swim team in the winter and the girls' JV lacrosse team in the spring. She lives in Locke Hall, where she also does dorm duty.

Meet Coach Schrope

Shannon Schrope joins Blair's science department as a biology teacher, bringing to her role experience at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she began working as mitochondrial medicine research assistant in July 2022. Prior to that, she worked as a biochemistry SIGUE postbaccalaureate research fellow at Michigan State University in East Lansing from 2021 to 2022. Shannon earned her Spanish language certificate at Middlebury College in 2019 and studied abroad at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, in 2020, graduating from Vassar College with a BA in biology and hispanic studies with honors in 2021. A swimmer and squash player who has also worked extensively for Habitat for Humanity, she got her start in education as a biology and chemistry tutor at Vassar, as well as a general chemistry supplemental instructor there from 2019 to 2021. Shannon has served as an assistant swim coach at a club in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and broke records in swimming while at Vassar in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke as part of the swim and dive team.

Meet Coach Ehrenwerth

Science teacher Megan Ehrenwerth joined Blair in 2022. Working at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, since 2011, Megan taught chemistry and served as dorm parent, advisor, varsity swim coach and JV field hockey coach. Prior to that, she was an adjunct professor at Lawrence Technological University, where she lectured and planned labs. A graduate of Haverford college, Megan earned her BA in chemistry in 2004 and her MA in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 2007.

View directions to athletic events. To read recaps about past events, go to the "Team News" tab above.

View photos from the 2022-2023 season on Blair's Photoshelter.

Boys' School Records

Boys' Pool Records

Girls' School Records

Girls' Pool Records