As an incoming freshman into a highly known high school swimming program, I came in with the confidence that I was coming in as one of the faster freshmen. Okay, I’ll be honest, I actually came in with a lot of nerves and fear because of how much of a jump the competition level would be. However, over the upcoming four years, I would find out that I would be just fine primarily due to the fact that my head coach built a relationship with me. 

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Ken Dory has been a swim coach for 38 years, spending: 20 years at Irvine High School, seven years at Concordia University, nine years at Mater Dei High School, and three at Costa Mesa Aquatic Club. Accolades he has accomplished during his career include 13 league titles between Irvine and Mater Dei, Orange County high school coach of the year in ‘98, ‘99, ‘00, ‘01, and ‘16, and National Men's Coach of the year (NAIA) in 2012. 

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Dory took pride in getting to know his athletes along with helping them along the way through high school, guiding them to not only better themselves in the pool but as a person as well. For the past two years, Dory has served as a learning center support coordinator, a job that he started during my last year of high school. 

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He was aware when specific students needed help whether it was academically or if they just needed a break from training. He understood that “being a multi-sport athlete helps you manage time better, practice flexibility, practice working with other people and situations,” but also when some people struggled with that. It is difficult for someone to be able to grasp things like this because as Dory describes it “there is a lot of learning going on”.

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Dory not only had his athletes to worry about regarding their training schedules and emotions, but he also had to be there firstly for his children who played multiple sports as well. He describes being a multi-sport athlete as “It’s a strain. I think physically, mentally, psychologically, emotionally it's all a strain.” He mentions how he came to terms with but also how coaches and parents can work with each other and just understand and practice the fact that that athlete can not be in two places at once. 

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Athletes who play multiple sports or have come from other sports can be described as either having an advantage in some areas compared to others, or contrary having disadvantages. “I think the multi-sport athletes can adapt a little better, can adjust a little more to certain things,” Dory stated about what being a multi-sport athlete brings outside of the training. 

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As someone who has done multiple sports at once only when I was younger, it has allowed me to gain insight and respect for the athletes who continue to do it whether it is in high school, collegiately, or professionally. Multiple things at once can not work being jumbled, they have to be managed and planned out, just like how one must with their schedule. 

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