They describe themselves as competitive, supportive, family. And goofy. They finish each other’s sentences, laugh a lot, and work incredibly hard. The four Pine Bush varsity girls swimming and dive team seniors, along with their coach, John Barth, are completing yet another remarkable season.

For these young women – Nina Camacho, Makenzie Gula, Ashley Martin and Katie Webster – it’s not just the end to their high school swim careers. These swimmers, who have been on varsity since they were in seventh grade, have never lost a Section IX meet. Not one in six years. That’s 67 straight meets as of Thursday, Oct. 12.

 

 

“We’re not superstitious,” said Coach Barth, who has been at the helm of the girls’ team since 2007. He’s also coached the boys team from 1995 to 2000 and has been a club coach for 27 years. “This team works incredibly hard. They’re all super competitive and they encourage each other.”

Actually, the team hasn’t lost a meet since September, 2017, when these young women were still in sixth grade, working hard and dreaming of competing on varsity. Coach Barth gives kudos to the Pine Bush Aquatic Club for helping so much in building this program.

The Core Four

Nina, Makenzie, Ashley and Katie are the “core four” of this team. They grew up together – in the pool. They’ve been swimming together since they were four years old, starting with the Pine Bush Aquatic Club. They’re close – “It’s absolutely a family here,” said Ashley. And they have lots of fun. “We sing and dance but when we’re in the zone…” Ashley didn’t have to finish the sentence. Their records tells it all.

“We’ve been so strong,” said Katie. “But we are all hard workers,” she added, pointing to the rest of the team warming up in the pool. “This team is so talented.”

During the season, these girls work out six days a week. They swim (a lot) and some do strength training and conditioning work at Rate of Force Gym. They hike and run. And bake!

Mackenzie, who was part of the New York State championship 200 freestyle relay team in 2021, said it’s all about the effort.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from,” she noted. “It depends on the effort you put in.”

And that effort takes lots of time. And bonding.

“This team is my second family,” said Nina.

Looking forward, through tears

They will all swim in college, Mackenzie said. They’re just not sure what level that will be.

It’s tough for them to look past this season.

“It’s scary,” said Mackenzie. “It’s going to be hard. We spend so much time together. Sometimes more than family! To think we won’t swim together again. We’re the crybaby group.”

“We’re goofy too,” added Nina.

“We all have the same goal,” said Ashley.

“We’re all competitive and want to win,” Katie added.

And that will continue, long after the core four have graduated. “We have a good core group coming up on this team,” Ashley said. “We are leaving the team in good hands.”

 

 

Swimming, Mackenzie said, is a mental game. “You’re racing the clock. You don’t worry about the person next to you. We push each other.”

“John encourages us,” said Katie, referring to Coach Barth.

A big change this year to the team is not having Kathy Gallagher on the coaching staff. Gallagher, as the girls refer to her, retired last year but still comes out to support the girls at many of their meets.

“We miss Gallagher so much,” said Katie.

“She was so motivational for us,” said Mackenzie. “She would make signs and hold them up during practice to help us push ourselves.”

Amber Hrbek has joined the team as assistant coach. She is a 2006 Pine Bush High School graduate who swam for Coach Barth, and the girls are thrilled to have her.

From terrified to role models

Looking back to their early days on varsity, when they were just seventh-grade students, Nina remembered how she felt joining the team.

“I was terrified of the older girls when we started,” she said, with the others nodding in agreement.

“We set the example now,” Katie added, keeping in mind how they felt as the youngest members on the team.

“They watch everything we do,” said Ashley. “They look up to us.”

And it’s well deserved, according to Coach Barth.

“They have taught me as much as I’ve taught them,” he said. “These are just great kids. I’m blessed. It’s been fantastic.”

Thursday evening, teammates, coaches, family and friends paid tribute to these awesome swimmers and incredible role models. By the end of the evening, they led their team to their 67th straight victory. A fitting outcome for this inspiring group.