The Sportlight: Vallepalli’s competitive spirit making splash as gamer
Sarah Woo, Staff Writer
November 18, 2019
The Sportlight highlights a male and female JV athlete every Monday and Friday. This week, Coppell junior JV swimmer Sravan Vallepalli was selected. [/infographic][/infographic]...
Fun atmosphere leads to new best times at Vaquero Battle
Joanne Kim, Staff Writer
November 14, 2019
It is the boys 100-yard freestyle event, and Coppell junior swimmer Cole Tramel is up on the diving board next to teammates junior Ivan Lau and senior Johan Pretorius. In last year’s Vaquero Battle, Pretorius won four of the five events, and was the only swimmer to make it to state last season, and he and Lau both had faster seed times than Tramel. ...
Swim team fundraiser evokes positive responses
Shreya Beldona, Staff Writer
November 8, 2019
Though the idea of placing plastic neon pink flamingos in a resident’s front yard may seem like a prank or out-of-date decoration, the act represents a Coppell swim team fundraiser. From secret nominations to “flock” a house to paying flocking insurance, the fundraiser often elicits smile...
Friendly feuds to be held at Vaquero Battle
Joanne Kim, Staff Writer
November 7, 2019
Tomorrow at 4:30 p.m., the Coppell swim team holds its annual Vaquero Battle meet at the Coppell YMCA. This meet, unlike most, is not a competition against rival high school swim teams. Instead, it is a competition amongst the Coppell swimmers themselves, intended to promote a fun yet competitive...
Immersing in swim, band, IB
Karen Lu, Daily News/Assignment Editor
November 4, 2019
Rushing out of the locker room, still wearing his swim cap and goggles, Coppell High School junior Hector Romero changes into his marching band uniform in the car while speeding off to the next competition. The frenzy of going straight from an early morning swim meet to a band competition that la...
Coppell competes in Dragon Hunt Invitational, adds experience to young team’s belt
Akif Abidi, Staff Writer
October 17, 2019
SOUTHLAKE - The Coppell swim team traveled to the Carroll ISD Natatorium to compete at the Dragon Hunt Invitational on Saturday, one of the team’s major preseason competitions. The meet featured teams from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, such as James Madison, Mansfield, Frisco Wakeland and one of Cop...
Coppell Swim team preps up for Dragon Hunt Invitational in Southlake
Akif Abidi, Staff Writer
October 11, 2019
The Coppell swim team travels to the Carroll Natatorium in Southlake tomorrow to participate in the Dragon Hunt Invitational meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Dragon Hunt Invitational meet is Coppell swim team’s third preseason meet. The team has been participating in preseason invitationals, such...
Pretorius pursuing military career with verbal commitment to West Point
Sally Parampottil, Executive Sports Editor
October 8, 2019
Previously picturing a life as a Navy SEAL, Coppell senior Johan Pretorius had a change of heart and committed to West Point on Sept. 28. Pretorius, previously featured in The Sidekick for his accomplishments for the school swim team, will swim for the Army at the Division I level while chasing his dreams of a military car...
Swimming seniors leave behind medley of memories
Sally Parampottil, Co-Student Life Editor
May 18, 2019
Four years of swimming for Coppell High School has left varsity seniors Yue Taira, Emil Aaltonen, Matthew Rodman, Rithvik Gunda and Elieser Gonzalez with time to reflect upon, from what they have done to what they are leaving behind. As the last class to have witnessed both former coach Rick Whitt...
Coppell swimmers snatch streak, “Golden Boot” from J.J. Pearce
Shivi Sharma, Staff Writer
May 4, 2019
Coppell senior swimmer Elieser Gonzalez clutched the trophy, dubbed the “Golden Boot”, as the rest of the high school swim team cheer around him in excitement after its victory against Richardson team J.J. Pearce. The offseason meet took place at Coppell YMCA on Friday, preceded by two days of int...
Swim team to host three-day meet, aim to wrangle Mustangs
Shivi Sharma, Staff Writer
May 1, 2019
The Coppell High School swim team hosts a three-day meet at Coppell YMCA from May 2-4 after school. The first two days consist of the swimmers scrimmaging against their own team members (an intrasquad meet) and the third day the team will compete against J.J. Pearce. The swim team has competed against Peace for...
Final stretch: Migault, Pretorius reach consolation finals in UIL state championships
Sally Parampottil, Co-Student Life Editor
February 17, 2019
Coppell High School juniors Johan Pretorius and Aurelie Migault traveled to Austin this weekend to compete in the 2019 Class 6A UIL Swimming & Diving State Meet at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Both swimmers made consolation finals, with Pretorius finishing 12th in the 100-yard back...
