Chappaqua's Simon Has Spirit, Wins Swimming Award

RYE, N.Y. -- Molly Simon received an order from some of her Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Team swimmers at practice Thursday morning.

“They told me I have to get dressed up,” said the Chappaqua assistant swim coach. “For a minute, I didn’t know who the coach was.”

Simon listened to her swimmers and the result was the female coach Spirit Award at the 86th annual Westchester County Swimming Championships at Playland Pool. Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Team finished second to Greenburgh Swim Team in the overall standings and its relay teams garnered the most points.

Chappaqua was the Northern Westchester Swim Conference’s highest place finisher. Each day a male and female coach was honored for their creative spirit ways. Chappaqua Swim and Tennis coach Dan Levy dressed up every day, receiving the male coach spirit award Tuesday, and capped it with a SpongeBob Squarepants tie. Simon painted her face in Chappaqua colors -- blue on the right side and yellow on the left side -- and wore sunglasses.

“We were doing really, in third place, and I wanted to keep the team spirit up,” said the young Simon, who has been with Chappaqua as a swimmer and now coach for 16 summers. “Everybody has been swimming together and doing really well and they have been having fun.”

Simon’s spirit was contagious. Simon said two of her eight-and-under swimmers painted their faces like she did.

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