For decades, Chaparral High School was among the programs that set the standard for Arizona high school swimming. It claims 19 state team championships between the boys and girls programs while producing more than 75 collegiate swimmers.
For the last five years, Russell Krzyzanowski was the head coach after replacing his brother Richard Krzyzanowski in 2020.
Last summer, Russell Krzyzanowski was released as head coach of Chaparral swim due to coaching differences with the school and was replaced by Edward Hadley, along with an entirely fresh coaching staff.
Now, with new leadership and a shifting culture, Chaparral illustrates a broader question when it comes to Arizona swimming: Should high school programs prioritize competition and advancement or focus more on the community and pride that make team sports meaningful?
High school athletics and club sports often clash because of the commitment they require from young athletes, who are often caught in the middle of the tug-o-war.
When Hadley took over this season, he inherited a program with a proud legacy but one in a period of transition. The switch hasn’t been easy for anyone involved in the program.
“It’s a bit rocky, but it hasn’t been that bad,” senior Peyton Schmidtke said. “He’s new to high school swimming, so there’s a lot to learn. But he jumped in the water with us, full clothes, just to correct form. That’s something none of our other coaches ever did.”
Hadley’s philosophy of swimming is different from previous coaches, current swimmers say. He doesn’t prioritize winning every meet.
“The goal is for every kid to have fun and meet long-term friends,” he said. “For some, that’s making state. For others, it’s learning a new stroke. Club is the path if you want to swim in college. But if your goal is fun and connection, high school is enough.”
For athletes, the line between club and high school swimming is clear.
Sophomore Gianna Sgouros said club swimming is taken very seriously because it should be. Success on the club level is often a ticket to a college swim program.
“High school is more for us to relax and kind of have fun,” Sgouros said.
The seniors on the team agreed that club swimming is important for those aspiring to compete at the next level, due to the individual nature of it.
“High school is a team sport. If you want to swim in college, club is more important,” said Chaparral senior Henderson Bradstock. “High school is just fun and with your school friends.”
However, balancing the two can be exhausting to high school students doing both at once. Club practice requires commitment after school, before school or even weekends to some.
For years, Chaparral had defined dominance in high school swimming. Now, with a new coach, the goal has shifted to focusing on having more fun and experiencing the team aspect of the sport.
Senior Caitlyn Gill said this year is about rebuilding a new legacy because the Firebirds are less worried about winning state and focusing more on being part of a team.
In Russell Krzyzanowski’s view, Chaparral’s challenges are part of a bigger issue in Arizona swimming: the growing influence of club coaches. He emphasized that high school swimming should be taken as seriously as the club sport.
Chaparral’s story is an example of the crossroads at which Arizona high school swimming and club swimming find themselves.
For some, like Hadley and his Chaparral swimmers, high school competition is about camaraderie, balance and the feeling of community.
For others, like Russell Krzyzanowski, it’s about protecting a legacy and resisting the pull of club politics.
If club swimming is the path to individual advancement, and high school swimming is the path to a sense of belonging and community, finding a balance between the two could determine the health of the sport going forward, many experts believe.
“Too often, athletes are told high school swimming doesn’t matter and (are) pressured to focus only on club,” Russell Krzyzanowski said in a text message. “That mindset creates a toxic environment, damages mental health, and robs kids of the joy of competing with their school teams.”
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