High Expectations and Big Shoes To Fill
By Kenzee Hampton
One coach steps down and another coach fills his shoes. Coach Casey Stelzer has been coaching for 21 years but has been working for Owasso since 2015.
Stelzer has served the Owasso Rams Swim Team well, but due to his son graduating, it is time to pass the torch on.
Stelzer states, “When you have a person that is a young coach, that is full of energy and full of enthusiasm, that is what a program needs to continue to grow.”
Stelzer explains how he has watched this team/program become what it is to this day, and even though he’s stepping down from coaching, he’ll always be a coach at heart.
He explains, “The pool is my comfort zone; I know how to teach kids how to swim and make them fast and how to build character….”
With Stelzer stepping down, it has given him time to reflect on old memories that have made coaching worthwhile. Memories that don’t always happen inside the pool.
Stelzer states, “Looking past swimming, my favorite memory is [when] we had a swimmer at a home meet a couple of years ago, Aslinn (Giguiere). She has an excellent work ethic and is super positive all the time. She hadn’t dropped time all season. At the home meet, she won her heat [for the first time].”
He elaborated that her winning her heat was terrific, but it wasn’t the thing that stood out the most. It wasn’t how the hard work she put into practice was finally paying off; it was how the team came together and cheered her on.
“Everyone sees the wins and loses columns,” explains Stelzer, “they don’t see the personal growth I have the honor to watch my swimmers go through.”
Stelzer has always seen coaching differently, and he is beyond grateful that he found another young coach with the same views on how to bring a team to greatness.
“She is getting a well-oiled machine,” says Stelzer, “I expect her to take Ram Swimming to the next level.”
From top to bottom and left to right are the future Head Coach Jenn Rudeen, Coach Tammy Wood, Coach Casey Stelzer, and the Owasso Rams Girls Swim Team of 2020-2021. Photo taken by Larry Sang
With big shoes to fill, Jenn Rudeen is taking it head-on. Around a year ago, Stelzer approached Rudeen and asked if she was interested in becoming head coach; at first, she was in shock. Stelzer told her she was the perfect fit. Rudeen swam with the Owasso Swim Team when she was in high school, moved on to compete in college and later decided to coach, putting her experience with national/collegiate swimmers to good use.
Surprised, Rudeen states, “Everything I have done has pointed to this position.”
Even with Rudeen having so much experience, she is still constantly learning and has been mentored by Stelzer. While being mentored, she has been able to be with the team.
Rudeen states, “Getting to know this team has made me want this position even more!”
Rudeen has already started scheduling meets and setting up practice plans. She can’t wait to see what the season will bring for the swimmers.
Even though Stelzer and Rudeen have the same views on coaching a team, she has some plans for our Ram Swimmers.
She states, “One of the biggest changes I plan on having [is] a more… structured schedule.”
Rudeens wants to give her swimmers the best opportunities to be as successful as possible. She wants her experienced swimmers to get stronger and faster.
Rudeen states, “If we are successful in and out of the water, we are building futures, not just athletes.”
With the goals over the season, Rudeen also has overall goals, and she strives to continue to build upon this team. She is hoping the numbers continue to increase and give Owasso no choice other than to build a pool.
Rudeen has been an assistant swim coach for over a year. When Stelzer broke the news to her that he wanted her to become head coach, she was hesitant at first, but she thought about it, and eventually concluded that that is what is best for her and the team.
Rudeen states, “ I feel if you are not a little bit afraid of it. You’re comfortable.”
Rudeen will be filling some big shoes, but she is not here for an easy fight; she is going to battle every obstacle with her team to push them to be great just as Stelzer did.