With the smell of chlorine, bright lights and the sound of water splashing, the swimming pool slowly became senior Brady Foley’s second home. Before B. Foley even started school, he was introduced to the sport of swimming by his father and grandfather who also had a passion for swimming.
Ever since B. Foley was born, his house was filled with a love for swimming, so it was almost impossible to stay away from it. B. Foley’s grandfather, Pete Foley, was one of the coaches at Weston High School, while B. Foley’s father Mike Foley got his job as a swim coach at Wayland in 1999.
“I started swimming at a very early age, earlier than I can even remember,” B. Foley said. “It wasn’t my choice to do it or not, but I’m very glad my father threw me into the sport.”
M. Foley believes his parenting and coaching skills don’t change whether B. Foley is at home or in the pool. Both environments are supportive, but M. Foley expects his son to keep up the hard work wherever he is.
“It’s no different whether it’s at the pool, when Brady is another athlete or at home when he is my son,” M. Foley said. “Expectations are high in both places.”
Having a parent as a coach is can be a unique experience for some student athletes. B. Foley makes the best out of his dad being the coach for the high school swim team.
“It can be both really useful and annoying at the same time,” B. Foley said. “On one hand, you almost never get time away from him since I see him at home and during practice, but it’s also really useful because I have someone that makes sure I’m thinking about what I should do to improve, along with always being there for me.”
For some athletes, the offseason is a critical part of their career. It can serve as a chance to work on skills and allow time for rest and recovery for their bodies before going back into the season. A well spent offseason can prepare athletes for a successful season to come. B. Foley’s goal was to swim at a collegiate level so he spent most of his offseason training.
“During the offseason, I usually go to the gym and try to stay as active as I can,” B. Foley said. “Whether that be actually going somewhere, or staying in my house, I find a way.”
B. Foley’s continuous work throughout his four seasons with Wayland Swim and Dive has paid off, as he was named one of the captains for the boys team for his senior year. His hard work, perseverance and leadership skills have been noticed throughout the team.
“[Brady] leads with a mix of discipline and encouragement, motivating the team to push beyond their limits,” sophomore Max Rainville said. “He has made a huge impact on the team, winning almost every individual race and playing a key role in helping relays win as well.”
Foley wanted to swim at the collegiate level and that dream came true when he announced his commitment to Roger Williams University. This goal of his was helped reached by his grandfather who mentored him through this whole process.
“I sat down with my grandpa, who coached many years at Weston and looked at some schools in the area knowing that I wanted to pursue swimming,” Foley said. “I’m very excited about the opportunities it might bring me, as well as the people I’ll meet along the way.
