A new season brings new leadership to the Carlsbad swim and dive team. Coach Kristi Caballero, who once swam for Carlsbad, is stepping in with years of coaching experience. She is focused on helping swimmers improve and bringing the team together.
Lancer Link: What made you want to be a swim coach?
Kristi Caballero: I was a swimmer for about 10 years, a club swimmer, and my first job was as a lifeguard and then a swim instructor. I really enjoyed teaching swimming, and then I escalated it into coaching. I ended up loving that too, and working with high school athletes has been my favorite age group.
LL: Why did you choose to coach for Carlsbad?
KC: It’s my alma mater, and I really like Carlsbad. We always had a strong swim team, and I want to help bring that camaraderie back.
LL: How long have you been coaching?
KC: I’ve been coaching for over seven years, since like 2018. I started coaching for Oceanside Swim Club, and I was with them for five years. This will be my third year coaching varsity high school.
LL: What strengths do you think the team already has?
KC: We have some great coaches who are returning. Coach Hunter and Coach Tracy are amazing coaches. For the athletes, we have a lot of club swimmers and a lot of passionate swimmers who have great backgrounds. So I’m hoping we will bring that to the Carlsbad team and the meets.
LL: What are your main goals for the team this season?
KC: Swimming is such an individual sport, so I just want to support individual goals as much as I can. As a team, though, I’d love to see us make it to CIF and potentially even state.
LL: How have you, and how will you continue, connecting with the swimmers?
KC: I like to get to know my swimmers and what their backgrounds are, what other sports they might do. I try to be accommodating to their other busy schedules, but I like to get to know them on a personal level and figure out what their goals are for the season as well.
LL: What’s your favorite part about coaching?
KC: I like watching swimmers grow and improve. Especially during the high school season, which is fairly short, a lot can happen in those three months, and I like seeing the team come together and become a cohesive unit, and I like just overall seeing the program succeed and seeing everyone enjoy the sport.
LL: Do you have a message for the swimmers or anyone supporting the team?
KC: Swim more! If you’re not swimming, come support the team. And if you’re not doing that—then dive. Get in the water!
LL: What are you most excited about for this season?
KC: I’m honestly so excited to be part of the Lancer team again. I’ve been coaching around Carlsbad for a while, in Oceanside and San Marcos. But I grew up in Carlsbad, I went to Carlsbad High, and I was a swimmer on the team. I’m stoked to be back and leading purple again.
