Overlooked by many of the “major” sports, such as basketball and football, the accomplishments of swimming often go unnoticed. The Richard Montgomery Girls Swim Team competed at the prestigious Metros on Feb. 9 and 10. The girls accomplished their highest placement since 2006, which they placed third in. Shortly after the Metros Victory, the girls added to the collection of accomplishments, as the team won a state championship. Led by Coach Akshay Gandhi, the girls were able to claim first place at Metros and States, and the boys were able to place fifth at States.
Chemistry teacher and swim coach, Gandhi has spent 15 years around swimming. Whether that’s summer, club, or school. Over his four years at RM, Gandhi has led the team to a Metros Victory, a meet versus private and public schools across the DMV, and a Maryland State Championship. On top of these team accomplishments, Gandhi has helped develop numerous collegiate athletes.
“RM Swim and Dive is so important to me because many of the kids I coach on the team I have known for a very long time,” Coach Gandhi said. “Some I’ve coached in summer league since they were 8 years old, some I coach daily on a club team and some of them I have taught for many years.” Not only does Coach Gandhi excel in teaching Chemistry, but he is also loved and respected throughout the RM Swim and Dive community, as well as by his students and fellow staff members. “He’s very understanding of our time and how we feel both as athletes and as regular kids too,” senior swimmer Elliot Lee said. “He does a really good job of bringing everyone together as a unified team.”
Being able to bring a team together and unified is a struggle in high school sports as many students are busy with other extracurriculars, school, and life in general. Coach Gandhi’s ability to create a sense of unity despite all these factors against him played a huge part in their success. “We have swim dinners every Friday and swim lunches in Gandhi’s room every Friday too,” junior swimmer Adam Yachin said. “And we had lunch in his room every day before regionals and states.”
A great coach is not defined by his/her record, but their impact on their athletes. “The whole reason I teach and coach is to help kids develop confidence and skills,” Coach Gandhi said. “It does mean that I’m not always the favorite coach but it does mean that when kids look back at their time with me, they hopefully see the goals I had for them.” His impact is not only shown through the accolades but the vibes he provides.
“Coach Akshay brings a huge amount of energy and excitement to every single meet,” Yachin said. “He clearly cares a lot about the team, but more than anything he wants us to enjoy ourselves. He is a big motivator and cheers for everybody.”
Following the girl’s victory at the Metros, Coach Gandhi jumped into the pool filled with joy and excitement. “I’m overjoyed that the girls won metros,” Coach Gandhi said. “This accomplishment means that the program has joined an elite class of programs that have reached the mountaintop.”
Another factor that defines a coach’s greatness is their ability to make the sport enjoyable for their athletes. Gandhi’s silly personality is admired throughout the team, whether that be jumping in the pool or making bets with his swimmers. “My favorite memory of him is probably when I first saw him with his new hairdo after he promised to bleach his hair after the girls won metros,” Lee said.
Not only is his enthusiasm admired throughout practices, but inside his classroom where he showcases trophies the team has recently won along with an RM swim and dive flag.
With Coach Gandhi by their side, the RM swim and dive program is moving continuously in an upward trajectory.
“The next goals are to continue to develop the younger athletes on the team and build up our team culture so this could be the start of many more great things to come,” Coach Gandhi said.
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