Wayne Valley’s Sarah Kauffman a champion again by Sean Farrell of The Record
WAYNE – The young coach walked in holding a large Starbucks cup in her hand, trying to make up for all the lost sleep.
The last few days were nervous ones for Sarah Kauffman.
She would be wide awake at 5:30 just thinking about her lineup decisions and her opponents, hoping that her dream would become a reality.
“We just wanted this so badly,” Kauffman said.
One of the most anticipated days of her early coaching career became one to remember on Saturday. Kauffman led Wayne Valley’s girls swimming team to its first Passaic County championship since 2014, and her first as its head coach.
“This is the best win [I’ve had],” Kauffman said. “This is more than anything I could have hoped for.”
Just a few years out of college, Kauffman is among the youngest members in North Jersey’s coaching fraternity. She brings a burst of energy to the pool deck, shouting encouragement from the edge of the water and immersing herself in the team’s victory celebration as if she was one of the swimmers.
“We love her,” sophomore Claire Custance said.
“She’s like a sister,” freshman Maddie Borowinski then said.
“And she’s like a mom to us,” Custance added. “She’s the head of the family. As soon as I touched for the finish, she started crying. She told me it was the best feeling in the world.”
What Kauffman lacks in experience, she makes up for with a distinctive ability to connect with her athletes.
“Being closer to their age definitely has had advantages for me,” Kauffman said, in her second season at Wayne Valley. “I can relate to them – not only with swimming, but with high school, with parents and with certain things.”
The Indians look like a young team headed in the right direction under Kauffman. Borowinski and Custance each won four events on Saturday, while sophomore Liz Mercuris and freshman Kelly Reynolds were other top performers.
Winning the Passaic County title still wasn’t easy. Fending off Passaic Tech proved to be a challenge. And Kauffman knew from experience of the legacy at Wayne Hills under coach Mike Shale. She won the Passaic County championship for his Patriots in 2010, and siblings Matt and Samantha swam at the school as well.
“[Shale] is the one who I can definitely thank for pushing me to get the job,” Kauffman said. “He’s been there to guide me and help me along the way so it’s been a joy having him there.”
“When they asked me, I told them she was a great kid and a great swimmer,” said Shale, who’s won more than 100 meets in his 18 seasons. “Not only in the pool, but how she handled herself.”
The mentor and the protégé on opposite sides of the Battle of Wayne have their differences. In their style. In their age. And in their level of experience.
But their core belief is the same – team first.
“It’s not about you getting a county title or you getting a meet record,” Kauffman said. “I’d rather see 24 smiling faces than just two happy faces. I want everyone to win as a team. That’s something Shale instilled in his swimmers.”
Almost a decade later, Kauffman is a champion once again. This time, however, was different.
“I honestly think it’s more rewarding [to win] as a coach,” she said Saturday. “You see the girls put all their hard work in and then have it pay off. It honestly feels surreal.”
Then added, “Tonight will be the first night I will sleep worry-free.”