Back In The Saddle: Retired Milligan College coach assumes reins of city swim program

Published 12:21 pm Sunday, August 28, 2016

Star Photo/Curtis Carden                              No stranger to the swimming scene in Northeast Tennessee, Jes Sutton, former swim coach at Milligan College, has assumed the role as the swim coach at Elizabethton High School. Sutton, pictured after practice on Friday, will also work with the city school system's community involvement program (CIP).

Star Photo/Curtis Carden
No stranger to the swimming scene in Northeast Tennessee, Jes Sutton, former swim coach at Milligan College, has assumed the role as the swim coach at Elizabethton High School. Sutton, pictured after practice on Friday, will also work with the city school system’s community involvement program (CIP).

Swimming in Elizabethton is about to see a tidal wave of wealth and knowledge take to the pool for 2016-2017.
After renovations at the pool located inside Elizabethton High School, the school system recently announced the acquisition of well-renowned swim coach, Jes Sutton, to take over the high school swim program and the Elizabethton City Schools System’s community involvement program (CIP) Typhoon Swim Club
“We’re very fortunate to have a swim coach that has the pedigree like coach Sutton,” Assistant Director of Schools Richard VanHuss said. “We’re very excited to have a coach that has coached at the collegiate level and we know that he will transition well for our high school and after-school programs. We’re very excited to have him aboard and the students are, too.”
Sutton has an extensive resume to his credit, serving as a swim coach from the European Forces Swim League and Milligan College.
The Cyclones’ coach retired from his post as the leader for the ‘Buffs program at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season.
“I’m very excited about this new opportunity,” Sutton said. “I retired from Milligan last year. I was familiar with the swim program here at the high school and I know they were looking for consistency from the program and I thought that was something I could provide.”
The tie-in between EHS and Milligan College can go as far as a couple years back, as the college assisted the school system with their swim program as their pool was under renovations.
“The working relationship between the school system and Milligan College has been phenomenal,” VanHuss said. “They’ve been right there with us and are always willing to help where they can, and we try to do the same for them when possible.”
There’s a brand new look across the board for the swim program at EHS, VanHuss added. Along with the new head coach, the school system recently completed renovations to the pool to get everything prepared for this year. The recent additions followed up the decision of replacing the pool’s heater two years ago.
“The most recent thing we were able to accomplish was painting the bottom of the pool,” VanHuss said. “That was about a three to four week process.”
Sutton’s pedigree will trickle down to the system’s CIP, which provides affordable exercise opportunities to members of the community.
“Any student is welcome,” VanHuss said. “It’s not just for the city. The program is a great way for kids to stay in shape and have fun after school and it’s a great way to begin establishing a feeder-program for our area.”
Sutton was quick to agree with VanHuss.
“Having the feeders are very important when establishing a program,” Suttin said about the Typhoon Swim Club. “I will be working with the high school and working with the programs after-school. We’re working on bringing consistency back to the program and it starts with getting kids excited and interested for swimming.”
Visit ecschools.net for more information on the CIP. The Cyclones and Lady Cyclones swimmers will have a couple of months to prepare before the start of their regular season.

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