The Campbell boys and girls swimming program has nearly tripled in size in four seasons under coach Laxmi Diaz.
In the 2012 season, when she began coaching the Sabers, she was in charge of six boys and six girls swimmers.
The next year, the total number was up to 24, and in 2014, it rose to 35. This year, there are 34 Sabers swimmers.
“When I started teaching at Campbell, I couldn’t believe that the total number of swimmers was so low for one of the largest public schools on Oahu,” Diaz said. “It was pathetic.”
Diaz played water polo for Kahuku in high school and that is the sport closest to her heart, but she enjoys her role guiding the Sabers swimmers. She is the boys head coach and Ashley Feria is the girls head coach, and they help each other out.
Diaz would like to get boys water polo back into the OIA, but knows it’s an uphill battle.
“We used to have it, but then it died out and that’s a shame,” she said.
Many but not all OIA schools compete in girls water polo.
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