For Mrs. Ahearn, swimming isn’t just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. As a dedicated swim coach, history teacher, and mother, Mrs. Ahearn has spent her life balancing the demands of education and family with commitment, perseverance, and passion.
Growing up, Mrs. Ahearn was surrounded by swimmers. Her mother was an elite swimmer who competed on the national team in 1970. “My mom was a better swimmer than me,” Mrs. Ahearn admits, but her mother’s dedication to the sport left a lasting mark on her. When her mother returned to masters swimming, Mrs. Ahearn would join her in the pool at just six years old. This experience set the course for a lifelong relationship with the water. “Swimming is a lifestyle,” Mrs. Ahearn says. It shaped her discipline and outlook on life.
Even though Mrs. Ahearn grew up loving the water, she made sacrifices and faced challenges like many other young athletes. When she entered high school, she understood that her commitment to swimming in college meant she couldn’t “have it all.” She often missed out on social events and, in college, swimming completely took over her life. Traveling for meets from Friday to Sunday, balancing academics with hard training, and pushing herself to exhaustion were all part of the experience. “There were times in college when I was physically in so much pain that I was just crying,” she recalls. But she still got up the next day and did it all over again. Through it all, she learned that swimming, like life, requires both mental and physical resilience.
Her experiences as a student-athlete now shape her approach to coaching and teaching. She understands the great commitment that young athletes undertake, both in and out of the classroom. Mrs. Ahearn empathizes with what her student-athletes go through, whether it’s going to school after a morning practice or missing out on a party.
Despite these sacrifices, Mrs. Ahearn encourages students to not give up. “Student-athletes should commit to what they love to do,” she says. She tells her athletes to remember that not everyone has the privilege to be an athlete and that participating in a sport gives them the opportunity to “be great.”
For Mrs. Ahearn, the sacrifices she made in high school and college ended up leading her to a career she loves. She began teaching history and coaching swimming at Carrollton fourteen years ago, and she continues to be passionate about both. Over the years, Carrollton has become her home. It “has helped me grow from a baby coach and teacher to the mother, teacher, and coach that I am today,” she says.
Mrs. Ahearn’s dual role as a coach and teacher at Carrollton has also allowed her to become more effective at both jobs. Her teaching and coaching philosophy is simple: “commit to yourself, and your seeds will grow.” She pushes her swimmers and students out of their comfort zones and encourages them to trust their bodies, minds, and dedication. “I can build…activities; I can build…sets; I can help give you…tools and help you practice those tools,” she explains, “but then when you get up on that block or you get in front of that test, you have to know that the work you have done will translate to a good performance.”
Watching her swimmers develop, not just as students and athletes but as individuals, has been the most rewarding part of her job. She recalls a swimmer she coached from sixth to twelfth grade who was not the best athlete, but who always showed up and gave it her all. “Her senior year, she wrote me a letter about my impact on her life,” Mrs. Ahearn says. The recognition that this athlete gave her meant so much because she realized that she plays a deeper part in her students’ and athletes’ life stories. Being a coach is “being a piece of their village,” she says.
Mrs. Ahearn’s unfailing dedication to her students and athletes has translated into concrete results in the pool. This past season was one for the books as Carrollton’s swim team won districts for the first time. This achievement demonstrated the extraordinary growth of the program under Mrs. Ahearn’s leadership. When she began coaching, swimmers did not even know how to read a set. The wins this season have been the result of her tireless efforts to “cultivate a love for swimming” among students at Carrollton.
“We beat Ransom [Carrollton’s biggest rivals] many times this season,” Mrs. Ahearn says proudly, most importantly at districts, regionals, and two invitational meets. “Our team this year was excellent–was outstanding–could stand against some of the strongest teams in the state.” She knows that this did not happen overnight and the dedication of each team member paid off in an unforgettable season. The district championship marked a culmination of years of hard work for Mrs. Ahearn.
Looking ahead, Mrs. Ahearn has big dreams. “One day, I’d love to have a pool,” she says, laughing. But for now, the team makes do with what they have, focusing on what truly matters and creating an environment of commitment, hard work, and enjoyment. Winning isn’t the ultimate goal even though she admits, “it was really fun.” Developing resilience, teamwork, and essential life skills is. “Things translate from the pool to everything,” she says, emphasizing that swimming teaches life lessons beyond competition. “Even when things get hard, you get up the next morning and do it again.”
And this is something Mrs. Ahearn exemplifies in her own life. As a coach, teacher, and mother, she acknowledges that every day is not perfect. She’s always honest about how she is feeling with her students, athletes, fellow coaches, and family. Over the years, she has learned that enjoying a run, spending time with friends, practicing yoga or doing whatever “fills [her] cup” is essential so that she can be the best version of herself for those around her. For Mrs. Ahearn, swimming is more than just a sport, it’s a lifelong journey, and she is committed to guiding the next generation through its waters.
