Curtis girls swim team embracing unusual role as 4A underdog

For several reasons, the feeling around the Curtis girls swimming program is different this fall.

Oh, the goals remain similar to most years – a Class 4A West Central District title, performances from the top athletes that will advance them and Curtis to the state meet in mid-November.

But the way the Vikings may get there? That has changed.

“For the first time in a while, we may be an underdog,” Curtis coach Aaron Hughes said. “We’re wearing a new hat, for sure. But there has been a hunger in the girls’ eyes (recently). I hope that continues.”

Already this fall, for instance, the Vikings have gotten a reality check. On Sept. 16, Tahoma beat Curtis, 118-68, in a dual meet matchup that Hughes said showed the work still needing to be done but also served as a coachable moment.

“I see it in context,” Hughes said. “As the state’s turning out, Tahoma is the strongest team I’ve seen so far. And they got the best of us on the scoreboard. But we had a 5 a.m. practice that morning. We were in the middle of one of the hardest training stretches of the year.

“If we were able to get up and have some of the performances we did that day, we have to be able to open our eyes to what we can do.”

At the center of the coach’s optimism lie Curtis captains Erin Forest and Gabi Bellin, two of the six or seven Vikings likely to be competing still come the state meet weekend on Nov. 12 and 13.

Expect juniors Alexa Proctor, Madison Sodomayer and Athea Caritativeo, along with sophomores Greta Bellin (Gabi’s sister) and Trinity Link to make some noise.

Now a senior, Bellin came into this season with maybe the most expectations of any swimmer on the Curtis team. Those expectations were born two years ago when, as a sophomore, Bellin placed sixth at state in the 100 and 200 freestyle events, and swam legs on the 200 free and 400 free relay teams that placed third and second.

Between then and now, even Bellin has focused differently on her sport. For one, she discontinued her participation with her club team – King Aquatics - during the 18 months when the Covid-19 pandemic erased swimming from the high school landscape.

“It was a very negative environment,” Bellin said. “I really struggled with club over quarantine. I didn’t have the motivation to swim. I think I just wanted to prove to my parents that I could swim in college, be like my dad.”

Her father, Daniel Bellin, swam for the University of California from 1991-1994. He competed in an Olympic Festival, and Gabi’s mother swam in high school.

From the beginning, Gabi Bellin has been drawn to the water.

“I love the water,” Bellin said. “It comforts me. Whether I am playing water polo, swimming or even in the ocean.”

Her experience in club swimming, though, stole the joy out of the sport for Bellin. By contrast, returning to high school swimming has put it back - but it took some time.

“Towards the beginning of the season, I was totally comparing myself to who I was in my freshman and a sophomore seasons,” Bellin said. “But I didn’t take into account that we had almost a total year off from swimming.

“I do still have some goals. I’d definitely love to win districts, and get a high place at state since I am a senior and one of the better athletes. But as the season has gone on, I know coach definitely wants me to enjoy my last year.”

There are a couple of Curtis records she’d love to break, as well. Leigh Lopez-Silvers set the school’s 100 free mark in 2019 at 51.35 seconds. Bellin’s personal best currently is 51.50. And there is the 200 free relay mark in sight.

Oh, and that whole college swimming thing?

“I’m 99 percent certain that I’ll commit to UC-Davis,” Bellin said. “Just not officially yet.”

Before college, though, there are things to accomplish – in a way that enriches rather than depletes her and the rest of the Vikings.

“She just needs to remember she has fun doing this,” Hughes said. “She has fun racing. It’s about staying positive in the moment. I have unending belief in what these girls are capable of.”

This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 5:00 AM.