Student representative praises Longview-area swim co‑op, credits coach for team culture

Lauren Page, a student representative, told the Longview School District board about the district’s high‑school swim co‑op, saying the girls’ co‑op had about 20 members and that about 75% of those athletes qualified for district competition this year; two swimmers advanced to state. Page said the boys’ program had about 30 members and that the program frequently sends multiple swimmers to district meets.

The co‑op, Page said, combines swimmers from multiple local schools and runs as a single team for practice, travel and competition. “He cares so much about the swimmers. It goes beyond a team and a sport and it’s a family,” Page said of coach Richard Carr, whom she credited with outreach to incoming freshmen and with creating an inclusive team culture.

Board members and other meeting participants praised the program and its outreach to new swimmers. One participant noted the program’s success at sending athletes to district and state competition; another called minor sports “just as important” as marquee sports. No board action was required; the presentation was part of the work‑session agenda.

Page identified team achievements and operational details: girls’ co‑op membership of about 20 with roughly three‑quarters advancing to districts and two individual state qualifiers; boys’ membership around 30, one of the largest rosters in recent years. Page described a phone‑calling outreach program to incoming freshmen and said that outreach helps sustain participation.

Coach Richard Carr was named by Page as a long‑time coach who prioritizes athletes’ wellbeing in addition to competition. Board members who spoke thanked Page and other student contributors for the report and said they valued the program’s role in student belonging and retention.

The board took no formal votes on the swim program; the presentation was informational and concluded before the meeting moved to budget business.