Diving coach takes on all the teams in Frisco

Senior+Diver+Caeley+Black+is+one+of+Coach+Soileau%E2%80%99s+diving+team+members+representing+the+Heritage+team.

Malorie McGruter

Senior Diver Caeley Black is one of Coach Soileau’s diving team members representing the Heritage team.

Coach Melissa Soileau has been coaching all the diving teams in Frisco for over five years.

“At first it was a little scary…This is my fifth year doing it. It’s kind of routine, I enjoy seeing the kids from the different high schools,” Coach Soileau said.

Her students do not seem to mind the additional teams. Some team members say it is a great way to make new friends.

“We’re all at the NAT [Natatorium], and you get to see other swim teams…you get to become friends with other divers from different schools and so it’s really neat,” senior Caeley Black said.

“Everybody talks with everybody…sometimes we have our little tiffs but we work them out and…have get togethers, so they’re very close, but also like a family helps build relationships together,” Coach Soileau said.

Her students also have a close relationship with her.

“Coach Soileau is like a really good coach, she is basically like a second mom and she like helps me, like if I’m not feeling good that day she’ll like push me to do my best,” junior Haley Lohden said.

Although she coaches multiple schools in the district, Coach Soileau makes sure nobody feels left out and unmotivated.

“I’m always very positive, I motivate them, I push them a little bit get out of that comfort zone cause diving can be pretty scary sometimes, but I will never ask them to do something they’re not prepared to do. And so if I say this is a skill you’re ready for they know, I believe in them and that they can achieve it,” Coach Soileau said.

She loves watching her students grow and seeing the different skills they bring to the team.

“I love that they bring different experience to our team, so my kids get to know people from all over Frisco and not just at their one school. And it really helps to build the team because we’re all in it together to become stronger,” Coach Soileau said.