By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Riverside’s diving right into swim season, starting this school year.

For the first time, the school will boast a swimming team, and it made official the hiring of former St. Martin’s swimming coach Kier McGuire to head the program.

“The school as a whole is excited,” said Riverside girls Athletic Director Kristy Hebert. “Riverside has talked about starting a swim team for years, and now it’s a reality.

“Kier has been swimming since she was a little kid, and works with swimmers year round. She’s was highly recommended, and has done a lot of impressive things.”

Said McGuire: “To attempt to build something is very fun for me. To see how excited the staff, the families, and the students are about swimming really excites me.”

McGuire has been a swimming coach for over 10 years. She coached both St. Martin’s high school and middle school teams, boys and girls, as the head coach of the middle school team and and assistant on the varsity squad. She also was the Head Age Group Coach of Crescent City Swim Club in Metairie.

Said Riverside Athletic Director Timmy Byrd: “We got a real up and comer, probably one of the most recognized young coaches out there. We’re excited about what she brings.”

She was an All-State swimmer as a prep star and attended Tulane and UNO. She will teach elementary P.E. in addition to her duties as swim coach.

She also is set to begin a year round swim club in LaPlace, where several of her Rebel swimmers are expected to participate.

“It’s not just the school, but also helping it grow in the community,” McGuire said.