Coach of the Year: Peter Tragitt

Clovis High

Published online on Friday, Jun. 27, 2008

Years at school: 15

He's qualified because: Took a collection of kids more known for their prowess in water polo to a third-place finish at the Central Section Championships. And if not for an accidental lane switch that left Chris Dominguez disqualified from swimming in the 100 free final, the Cougars likely would have finished second for the first time in Tragitt's tenure. Clovis finished with 204.5 points, behind only 10-time defending champion Clovis West (377) and Buchanan (212.5). Tragitt coached his first dual champion this year in Dan Wilson (200 and 500 free) and put together the winning 400 free relay team that upset perennial champion Clovis West.

Defining moment: A school still riding high from winning the Central Section Division I boys water polo championship in the fall emerged as a swimming contender with its performance against Buchanan during a Tri-River Athletic Conference dual meet in April. The Cougars won the meet's first four events on their way to a 105-83 victory.

Career highlights: Started his swimming career at Mt. Whitney before transferring to Clovis, where he was the section 200 free and 500 free champion as a junior. Went on to swim for Cal, and later was a Bears assistant for six years.

The word: "Peter took a bunch of guys who were predominantly polo players and convinced them they could be fast swimmers, and that it was important they could be fast. You get a lot of water polo players who just flat out don't want to swim. He doesn't have the number of horses, but pound for pound for pound, man for man, he got as much out of his guys as anyone did," -- Central coach Rick Klatt

Coachspeak: "The boys really bought into what the coaching staff wanted them to do. And they were pretty patient because we were not very good at the beginning of the year. But by them not panicking, it made coaching much easier. The kids worked really hard." -- Tragitt