Lewis-Central swim team's fate rests on Red Oak's shoulders

COUNCIL BLUFFS – In a cooperative agreement with Red Oak High School and Lewis Central High School, nine Red Oak High School students will be competing during the girls’ indoor swimming season.

Some of the athletes have been traveling to Council Bluffs to swim for Lewis Central Girls Swimming Head Coach Bruce Schomburg since they were in elementary.

Schomburg has been coaching since 1979 and also coaches swim teams of all ages throughout the year.

“I think we’ll do well this year,” Schomburg said. “I know that the Red Oak girls will make a pretty big impact on our team.”

On a team of 27 swimmers, Red Oak students make up a third of the team. Another third of the team is made up of swimmers from Glenwood, Atlantic, Sidney, and Emma Maas from Griswold.

Red Oak’s Molly Thomas is one of Lewis Central’s leaders this year. The senior swimmer competed last year in the state meet in the 200m individual medley.

“Molly is a very strong swimmer,” Schomburg said. “She can do it all. She’s one of my best sprinters, but she would also be able to do distance if I asked her to.

The Titans also are looking at Stefani Smith (long-distance), Julie Sunberg (back-stroke) and Stephanie Farnum (sprinter) to step up this year and contribute to their varsity team.

“We’re hoping to improve on last year,” Schomburg said. “I feel like we need to really use the experience of swimmers like Molly and Stephanie this year to really help with some of our younger swimmers.”

Five of the Red Oak swimmers this season are freshman.

The Titans’ first swim meet is Sept. 12 at the Missouri Valley Relays in Sioux City. Their first home meet is Sept. 15 at Titan Hill Elementary.