Fall Preview: Caldwell leading way for MP girls swim

When Dani Caldwell started her swimming career at Mountain Pointe she pretty much avoided that frightening freshman season.

Her older sister, Sam, was a junior on the Pride swim team and helped to guide her through the uncertainty.

But Caldwell hasn't forgotten those early days on the team and now as a senior co-captain wants to help the underclassmen feel like they are part of a team.

"I never noticed (the gap) too much because I was pulled up into the upper classmen groups by Sam," Caldwell explained. "But I did notice it a little bit last year and as seniors we've been working to make sure there isn't that gap between upper and lower classmen this year."

So far, she said the chemistry is working.

"Coach (Steve) Mancuso pushes them beyond what they thought was their limits in practices," Caldwell said, "but they come in with smiles on their faces every day and there is a closer atmosphere."

Caldwell has also found another comfort zone. Her sister has transferred back to Arizona State University from the University of Pacific and that has helped Dani's "comfort zone" as she begin her senior season.

"It was different having her away last year," Caldwell said. "It was like losing a part of you. She helps me with any problems I have and gives me confidence."

Caldwell could be looking at two individual state championships in the 200 and 500 yard freestyle this season.

She placed third to Scottsdale Desert Mountain's Whitney Lopus and Angel Duckworth last year and was a runner-up to  Duckworth in the 500-yard freestyle last season.

Both graduated last spring.

"That could be good for me at state," Caldwell said, "but a lot of younger swimmers are pushing me the whole way. I don't know if I'll win, but I do my best."

Caldwell is a year-around swimmer and spends most of her time in the pool with the Brophy East Swim team where she has been able to keep an eye on most of the state competition.

"There could be some surprises," she added. "People are always dropping times. Between my freshman and sophomore years I even suddenly popped up on the radar, so anyone can drop their times and come out of nowhere."

She swam the backstroke and some sprint events as a freshman, and still competes on short races with her club during the summer, but she prefers the longer events like the 200 and 500 freestyle.

"Something like the 50 is fun," she said, "but you can't get into a groove. You just get started when it's over. And, you can't afford to make a mistake in a short race. Longer distances give you a little more room for mistakes."

Caldwell will have an opportunity to be a mother hen, at least the early part of the season.

The Pride are young, but those freshmen and sophomores could also scored some valuable points this season.

Mountain Pointe's girls team finished ninth in the state finals last season, one point behind Corona del Sol. The boys also finished ninth among 22 schools.

"We're young, but we should do better this year than last," Mancuso said. "We have some good, young swimmer who could help us this year and help make us better the next couple of years."

The Pride also have nine divers, five boys and four girls, who could pick up points they were missing last season.

Senior Darrell Payne, a former gymnast who was on the board for the Pride as a freshman and junior, is Mountain Pointe's most experienced diver this season.