Coach Miguel Vasquez

Coach is constantly firing on all cylinders. Last month, he broke another Guatemalan national swim record for butterfly. Tackling the elephant in the room, I asked him if coaching a bunch of high schoolers in Lafayette, Louisiana felt like a bit of a come-down. “I’m genuinely excited. It’s awesome because I'm on both sides of the water at the same time. I get to take what I coach and implement it into my own training. I can't require things of y 'all that I'm not willing to do myself.” With several state swim championships chalked up at the ESA Falcon Nest, both Coach and team know that there are big shoes to fill. 

“ESA athletics has always been looked upon very highly, and I'm excited that I can be the person to continue that standard.” ESA swim coach Christina Hidalgo told me that she had every confidence in him: “Knowing Coach Miguel’s personal success in the sport and his vibrant personality, I knew he would be the perfect fit for the ESA swim team. He’s a model of positive sportsmanship, passionate leadership, and integrity. It’s a real honor to work alongside him.”

Vasquez is a force to be reckoned with. As the ESA swim team captain, having Coach Miguel at your side gives you a particular degree of confidence because you know he’s walked the walk. If I’m feeling slightly hesitant about swim practice with thoughts of my looming chemistry lab report or stats assignment, his words ring in my head: “You just put your head down and get it done - you’re here for a reason.” He stares me down. “Scarlett: student athletes are so much better than regular students. Your schedule and responsibilities are rigorous. You gotta be calculated, very organized, very schedule-oriented.” 

“YES COACH!”

Always ready with a motivational quote (as in the ever-popular “There's only one way to eat an elephant and that's one bite at a time”), Vazquez is a bit of a philosopher and a self-confessed “overthinker.” Life has not always been easy for him. During Covid, he suffered an almost-life changing knee injury, and doctors didn’t know if he would be able to walk, much less swim again. After reconstructive surgery, a bone marrow transplant, and some inspiration from his beloved Guatemalan grandmother and his mentor and coach Bill Fagley, he overcame it.

It is clear that Vasquez’ other mentor is his father Axel Vasquez, who was the “OG” ESA swim coach. “This is a full circle moment, being the swim coach now,” confirms Coach Miguel. It’s touching seeing his father Axel watch his son at work, coaching the ESA swim team up and down the pool, motivating them with the same infectious enthusiasm. Coach Axel says, “I remember him as a little boy, now he’s a grown up and he’s the one doing the work, teaching and coaching. I'm at his side in the shadows. It feels fantastic.” Coach Miguel is definitely a chip off the old block with his ecstatic and positive coaching mentality.  

Vasquez tries to relax by rock climbing, playing piano, and reading, but he never really takes his eye off the prize. “Admittedly, I'm living my dream right now. I wanted to be on the national team. I wanted to break a national record. I wanted to go to all these meets. I’ve done all these things. My goal is to have one more senior international meet under my belt, and  I would love to break a long course national record.” The million dollar question awaits: “The Olympics?” I ask. “People talk about the Olympics a lot. It’s always on my mind, but I think a lot of times we associate certain circumstances with failure and I don't. I'm gunning for it obviously, but it's not my whole identity.” 

What are the prospects for the ESA women’s swim team this season? With already two back to back first places at swim meets this past week (and the men’s team not far behind), as the Magic 8 Ball would say, “Outlook good.” As we huddle around for our whole team meeting with hearts racing and adrenaline pumping, wise words come from the Falcon oracle himself: “Be a warrior in a garden rather than a gardener in a war,” he says cryptically. He laughs, “Be calculated, plan, always be prepared. But sometimes, you just have to do it!” 

About the author: Scarlett Osborn is a senior at the Episcopal School of Acadiana. She is captain of the varsity swim team, represents the district of Lafayette at the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council at the State Capitol and is a Future Coastal Leader for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.