ROCK SPRINGS — A new era is set to begin for the Rock Springs High School girls swimming and diving program as Alex Buckman takes over as head coach, bringing experience within the program and a clear vision for its future.

Buckman enters his first season as head coach after spending the past two years as an assistant with the Tigers. He also led the Rock Springs Junior High swim team last season, giving him an opportunity to work with many of the younger athletes who will now join the high school program.

Before coming to Rock Springs, Buckman spent seven years coaching with the Laramie Swim Club, working with swimmers ranging from beginners to elite-level competitors. He has also coached multiple state qualifiers.

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For Buckman, stepping into the head coaching role is both an exciting opportunity and a chance to build on a foundation he has already been part of.

“It’s incredibly exciting,” Buckman said. “Having served as an assistant with the program, I’ve had the opportunity to build relationships with many of our athletes and really understand what makes this team special.”

Buckman said his familiarity with the athletes and program should make the transition easier while still allowing him to introduce his own ideas.

“I’m especially excited about creating a strong team culture where our athletes feel supported, challenged, and proud to represent Rock Springs,” he said.

That culture will be one of the primary themes for the Tigers this season.

Buckman wants the team to maintain a competitive edge while making sure swimmers and divers understand that their contributions go beyond individual events.

“Swimming and diving can sometimes feel like individual sports, but at the high school level, we’re a team,” Buckman said. “I want our athletes supporting each other, celebrating each other’s successes, and taking pride in representing Rock Springs.”

The Tigers will have experienced leadership to help establish that culture.

On the girls side, senior Kaylee Moore has emerged as a leader for the program. Buckman said Moore has consistently set an example through her attitude, work ethic and interactions with teammates.

“She’s someone who understands what we’re trying to build as a program,” Buckman said.

He also noted that senior Bennett Bonsell has provided similar leadership on the boys side, which will compete in the winter. Buckman described Bonsell as an athlete who is willing to help younger and less experienced swimmers while bringing a positive attitude to the pool.

Buckman said he wants his seniors to understand that leadership is about more than being the fastest swimmer.

“It’s about how you carry yourself, how you treat your teammates, and what kind of example you set every day,” he said.

While the Tigers have experienced swimmers returning, one of the most encouraging developments for the program is its younger group.

Buckman said Rock Springs has brought up a strong group of swimmers and divers from the junior high program, and the high school team is actually gaining more athletes than it lost from last season.

That growth is particularly significant for the diving program.

High school diving has been absent from Rock Springs for several years, but that will change this season as divers from the junior high program move up.

“I think one of the biggest things to watch this year is actually our diving program,” Buckman said. “We haven’t had diving at the high school level for several years, and this season we finally have some divers coming up from our junior high program.”

Buckman said the young divers still have plenty of room to develop, but their arrival represents an important step in building a more complete program.

“Having diving back is also a big step forward for the program as a whole,” he said.

In the pool, Buckman expects the Tigers to be particularly strong in the sprint events. He said the team has athletes capable of competing in the shorter races and will spend the season developing their speed, technique and racing ability.

The early portion of the season, however, will be focused heavily on fundamentals.

Buckman plans to emphasize starts, turns, underwaters and stroke technique before placing too much emphasis on speed.

“The little details can make a huge difference in a race,” he said.

At the same time, he wants practices to provide a balance between competition and enjoyment.

“I want our athletes to enjoy coming to practice, support each other, and feel like they’re part of something, but I also want them to understand that we’re here to compete and get better,” Buckman said.

The goal is to create an environment in which swimmers push each other in the pool while remaining teammates outside of competition.

The program’s emphasis on growth also extends beyond this season.

Buckman said the junior high program has given Rock Springs an opportunity to introduce athletes to competitive swimming and diving at an earlier age, develop their skills and build excitement about continuing at the high school level.

That pipeline could become an important part of the Tigers’ long-term success.

“We’re not just focused on what our team looks like this season; we’re trying to build something that continues to grow year after year,” Buckman said.

Ultimately, Buckman said he is looking forward to seeing how the team develops throughout the season, whether that comes through personal-best times, state qualification, learning new events or simply gaining confidence.

“I’m especially excited about bringing together our returning athletes with this new group of younger swimmers and divers,” he said.

For a first-year head coach, the season will bring its share of challenges. But with returning senior leadership, a growing group of younger athletes, sprint strength and the return of high school diving, Buckman believes the Tigers have an opportunity to establish a strong foundation.

“More than anything, I’m just excited to coach,” Buckman said. “I love being on the pool deck, working with the athletes, and watching them compete.”