[7/21/04]Start spreading the news, Allan Poppoon is the new swimming coach at Vicksburg High.

The New York native and former Vicksburg Swim Association coach will bring more than seven years’ experience to the high school program.

Poppoon was an assistant in Jackson until last September, when he took the opportunity to become a head coach for the Vicksburg Swim Association.

Poppoon coached there until recently, when he was hired for the top spot at VHS.

A team of about 15 to 20 members is expected this year, and Poppoon hopes to build the program so it becomes more visible within the school and the city.

“I want to bring strong leadership to the team,” Poppoon said. “There’s going to be a good attitude of discipline and competitiveness that will hopefully give swimming the prominence it deserves in Vicksburg.”

Training and practices will start in August shortly after the school year begins, and the first meet is scheduled for September.

There are several small meets throughout the season, all of which lead up to the two big meets at the end of October The North State Championship Meet and the State Championship Meet, which are scheduled for Oct. 23 and 30, respectively.

Poppoon wants his team to do well in the smaller meets, but his main goals for this season will all be centered around the state competitions.

“My first season, I want to see a congealed group with a lot of hard work and technical improvement,” he said. “The smaller meets will be fun and a good way to see where we stand as far as our competition and what improvements we need to make, but our sights this year are set on qualifying for the state meets and doing well in them.”

Poppoon attended Oswego State in western New York, and competed for the OSU swim team while earning his degree.

Poppoon’s first coaching position was as assistant coach of the Webster Bluefins of Webster, N.Y., while he earned a bachelor of physical education degree from Brockport State, also in New York.

The Bluefin Club in Webster dissolved after he had been there 2 1/2 years, and Poppoon made the move to Mississippi when an assistant coaching position at Sunkist Swim Club in Jackson opened up.

“I’d been coaching for a while and didn’t want to stop, so I jumped at the chance to coach in Jackson,” he said.

In the long term, Poppoon wants to build VHS into a position of prominence around the state.

“I hope that I can build a program that is competitive within Mississippi,” Poppoon said. “It will be a challenge, because there are some great teams in the southeast, but I hope that one day, Mississippi swimming will be noticeable throughout the region.”