Woodberry Forest swim coach Guldin living a dream

Woodberry Forest swim coach Gregory Guldin spends one out of every eight nights on duty at the school's junior dorms to make sure many boys use their study hall time wisely and make it to bed on time.

Since Saturday, Guldin spends every night in disbelief, still amazed at what his team was able to accomplish. 

The Tigers earned the VISAA state tournament title with a score of 222, a tally 20 points ahead of second place Hampton Roads, who edged out Bishop O'Connell and Collegiate by one point.

"It still hasn't really sunk in that we were able to win the meet," Guldin said. "The excitement, the nervousness, coming back here, even some of the kids still can't believe we were able to do it."

Out of the 12 events, the team placed in 11, winning two relays. Junior Zach Switzer, who was voted the meet's most outstanding swimmer, set the state championship record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 0:50.02, while also setting the record in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:50.72. His time in the 100 backstroke earned him All-American status. 

"We said let's just go get it," junior Bear Bondurant said. "We won and it was awesome. Everyone was exhilarated." 

Senior Heath Allen finished third in the 200 freestyle and was part of the relay team, joined by Nick Hoffman, Bondurant and Switzer, that won the 400 freestyle and the 200 medley. The 400 freestyle was the last event, and the team had to finish in the top seven to secure the title, but they were unaware of the fact entering it. 

"We weren't really sure how we stood," Hoffman said. "We were just hoping to do well, hoping to come out on top. It was kind of a goal over the whole year. We said we really had a shot, but we all had to swim our best times. It was good how the team worked it out.

"I'd say that was by far the best we swam [all season]. We were all there to support each other, everybody swam their best and their hardest."

Hoffman, who is one of three seniors, was on the team that finished third at the state meet his freshman and sophomore years, while earning runner-up honors last season. 

"It was a build up the whole four years," he said. "People have come and gone, but we have all progressed. We all finally reached that point. It's a tremendous way to leave."

For the coach, putting the team ahead of individual success has gone a long way in transforming his squad from one with title aspirations to one possessing the trophy. 

"Swimming can sometimes become a very individualized sport because it can often feel like it is an individual swimmer racing a clock," Guldin said. "And often times it is, particularly for larger USA club teams that will generally compete at very large invitational meets that may not even have team scoring. But high school swimming is very different, because while having a stellar individual athlete will certainly contribute to a win, it ultimately comes down to how well the team as a whole can perform."

"Throughout the two-day state meet, the Woodberry Forest Tigers lived every sense of the word [team], pushing each other, counting on each other, building off of each other's victories, and understanding that they were all contributing to something larger than themselves."

With his two individual wins, Switzer didn't think about his own success once, as he looked to guide the seniors to a title before graduation. 

"It feels great to look up and see a 'No. 1' next to your name, but I knew we would need the highest place possible in order to win the meet," he said. "I was really thinking about the team."

In an open year as Guldin put it, the focus on togetherness was just enough to put the team over the edge. 

"Going into this season, I knew the state meet would be a very close race," Guldin said, who praised assistants Sharon Jacobs and Graham McBride for their contributions. "But what I did not know was just how close it was going to be or which teams would be in the running. 

"Our training and attitude centers around the idea that no matter what we do, we do it as a team." 

Switzer and company managed to produce when it mattered most, capping off an incredible year. Guldin credits his star swimmer for helping the team out in the water and with pumping them up, while leading by example. 

"Zach Switzer is a huge contributor," said Guldin. "Even though he is not currently a team captain, he inspires and motivates his teammates to push themselves by never letting up himself. His drive to race and constantly improve, coupled with his trust in himself, his teammates and his training, are a significant portion of what has resulted in his success to date. The bonds that are forged here at Woodberry are truly the driving force behind the success of the Tigers."

In the end, the head coach guided the team to its eighth state title in school history, and first since 2003.

"For his second year as coach, it's just amazing what he has been able to do for this program and all of the swimmers individually," Allen said. 

The team doesn't take much, if any, of the credit. 

"He [Guldin] is the reason why we are doing so well," Switzer said. "He pushes us as hard as he possibly can."