Earlier this month, Robinson announced the hiring of Joe Smolinske to be the varsity swim coach for the upcoming winter season. With experience coaching all levels of youth swim, Smolinske is looking to make a splash in a long-dominant Robinson swim program.

Smolinske’s winning background will serve to be a valuable asset for the upcoming season, as he spent the last two summers coaching Kings Ridge Swim Club, a local summer team, to a 9-1 record over two seasons, with a division championship and runner-up finishes to show for his efforts. In addition, Smolinske has experience coaching at the college level, as well as a long stretch of success at Bishop O’Connell High School, coaching his swimmers to numerous Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) championships.

With exposure coaching a college program, as well as numerous other high schools, you can expect Smolinske to lead this Robinson team into continuing its stretch of perennial dominance. “High school swim is very competitive, especially here at Robinson. We have a high bar set,” said senior Parker Schiffman.

Last season, the boys swim team achieved a second place finish in the state, with the girls finishing in seventh. The last year that both the boys and girls teams were out of the top ten finishes in the state was 2013. “I have a lot of faith in the team this season,” said Schiffman. “Last season was very successful, and I hope we can top it this year.”

Smolinske brings a unique kind of high-energy engagement to the atmosphere of the swim team. “He’s very energetic. He loves his swimmers and he loves his job,” said senior Annie Custis. “He’s very involved in the themes with us [at Kings Ridge].” It’s clear that Smolinske’s passion for coaching and appreciation for each individual swimmer is a key factor in the successful resume that he is bringing to Robinson swim.

This level of involvement will allow Smolinske a better understanding of what it takes to make his team win. “I think he’s going to be able to see what people’s strengths and weaknesses are and successfully implement those,” said Schiffman. Junior Garrison Cade would echo Schiffman’s thoughts, saying, “I think he’s good at preparing all the people for a meet… It’s going to be really competitive, but I know he will take it seriously.”

With eight and nine returning seniors for the boys and girls team, respectively, the Robinson Swim and Dive Program looks to once again be a force to be reckoned with, not only in the Patriot District, but the entire state. Looking to build upon years of strong results and perennial success, a state title is within reach. Led by a seasoned coach and a talented roster, the swim team may have found the recipe for a state championship.