Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best thing about swimming for Madeira?
The camaraderie of the team is the best part of our program. Although we train and race hard, we have fun and make lifelong friends.

2. How many girls are on
the team?
The team is made up of 30 swimmers and 7 divers.

3. I am a summer league swimmer. Is there a place for me on the team?
Yes. Even though we have year-round swimmers, the bulk of our team is made up of girls who have done a little bit of competitive swimming with either a summer league or YMCA team. Many girls who come to Madeira find a renewed love of the sport, and some girls work their way up through the PE classes.

4. Do you need to drive off-campus for swim practice?
No. We train in the beautiful Hurd Sports Center pool on campus.

5. Does the school provide swimsuits?
Each girl purchases her own swimsuit for the season. Team caps are provided. Suits are made available for financial aid families.

6. Are the seniors nice to the freshman swimmers?
Being on the swim and dive team is an added dimension to the Madeira experience. All the swimmers and divers look after one another, especially our freshman. Our seniors set the tone for the season and their leadership is one of the reasons for our success.

7. Does everyone get to compete in the swim meets?
Yes, every swimmer competes in the nine dual meets. The state championships require qualifying times. Each swimmer is given the opportunity to swim all 11 events in order to earn her varsity letter.

8. Do we have away meets?
Yes, each year we schedule a few meets at our competitors’ pools. The league and state champs are also off-campus. We travel in school busettes to and from the meets.

9. I used to do gymnastics. Would I make a good diver?
Yes, we have had great success with girls moving from gymnastics to springboard diving.

10. Do we ever swim with boys?
Yes. For half of our meets we are paired with a local boys team and at states we cheer with Woodberry Forrest.

11. Do Madeira girls go on to swim competitively at the college level?
Yes, many do. We regularly send girls to Division I, II, and III NCAA colleges. Recent alumnae have gone on to attend and compete at: Brown, Columbia, Emory, Georgetown, Grinnell, Harvard, Kenyon, Lehigh, Trinity, Tufts, UVA, USC, Wellesley, and Williams, among others.

Have another question for Coach Montrie? Send him an email at rmontrie@madeira.org