Three swim coaches each face the challenge of leading two teams to the state finals in one day.

Being a swim coach at the state finals is like riding an emotional roller coaster.

Even if the competition is days away, coaches are playing an internal chess match trying to arrange any outcome to win the match. They combine all 11 races to maximize their point total and prepare for their opponent's 11 races.

It's a mental exercise, but championship-level coaches will spend countless hours trying to be “beyond prepared” for everything the opposing team throws at them, exhausting all options.

Now, imagine doing this twice in preparation for the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association State Swimming Championships.

As a result of the new group structure implemented by the NJSIAA this season, each of the three coaches will experience the ups and downs of leading a championship team twice against Rutgers on Feb. 25.

Chatham's Laura Hartnett could win two Group B trophies with start times of 12pm and 1:30pm. Haddonfield's Luke Wister will be looking for a win in Group C's 3:00 and 4:30 contests. Bergen Catholic/Immaculate Heart's Leah Knapas will finish coaching Sunday's two non-public titles at 6 and 7:30 p.m.

Previously, all five men's and all five women's finals were held on separate days to balance the weekend. This included two private groups labeled 'A' and 'B'. There is now only one all-encompassing private group, reducing the total number of groups statewide to eight. Due to this structural change, all eight tournaments will be held on the same day.

In the past, you would have had the opportunity to celebrate with your team after a win, or cheer for them after a loss. This allowed coaches to think it through overnight and calculate the next day's lineup with just that game in mind.

Hartnett, Knapas and Wistar will have to use coaching methods they have never experienced before in the swimming state finals.

Did they realize this could happen before the season started?

Luke Wister, of Haddonfield, said: “I wondered if something like this had ever been done before, but it's interesting.” “I was thinking of crossing that bridge when I got there. Well, I just arrived at the bridge.''

It also comforted them to know they were not alone in this quest.

“At first, I thought it was just our team that would run into this conflict. So now that the three of us are preparing like this, I feel a little better. We can handle this. I feel like I can do it,” said Laura Hartnett of Chatham.

Perhaps maintaining a flat keel through Sunday will be too difficult, but reaching the finals twice is what these coaches strive for, so they will adjust as necessary.

“It's going to be a stressful day. A lot goes into preparing for the meeting, sometimes too much. After all, I have to do my job.” “If it takes a little longer to put everything together by Sunday, that's fine. I really want both teams to win,” said Leah Knapas of Bergen Catholic & Immaculate Heart. Ta.

Preparation aside, the toughest part of the championship for these coaches is the rapid transition period.

These three coaches will have to adjust what they do after the first matchup.

If they win, will there be enough time to celebrate with the boys team?

What if they lose? Will these coaches be able to shake off the loss, take the pain and get the girls team ready for a state championship?

Whichever emotion takes over after the first game, the coaches have to put a lid on it, regain focus and almost immediately win another state title.

“Just because you win doesn't necessarily mean you have fun. If the boys win, you have to immediately go into the girls' warm-up,” Wister said.

“Maybe even if we lose the first game, it won't hurt as much. It will be a quick turnaround.”

Hartnett, the former New Jersey.com Men's Swimming Coach of the Year, has already assigned roles to his coaching staff for this portion of the day.

“Coaches have been talking about how to handle the transition from the men's competition to the women's competition. We know who will celebrate if the men win and who will prepare the women. We prepared through everything,” Hartnett said.

Another balancing act that could make that happen is how they act after it's all said and done. If half the swimmers go home defeated, will they still be able to celebrate?

“I'm not happy even with one win and one loss,” Wistar said.

It helps that these coaches aren't competing in the state finals for the first time. Haddonfield won three consecutive state titles for the boys and four for the girls. Last season, each Chatham team made it to the final day, and the boys team won all of them. Immaculate Heart took home the state's last non-public A trophy.

They may have been here before, but the old approach needs to go away. It may be tougher than in recent years, but there are still positives to be taken from these tumultuous times.

“My first thought was that we all have to coach games back to back. There is not enough time to prepare the next team for a game, but coaching I don't think there's even enough time for all the staff to celebrate,” Hartnett said.

“However, on the flip side, I hope that the girls will become even more motivated as they watch the boys at Chatham compete for the championship. Later we will gather there to cheer on the girls. Although difficult, these elements are definitely beneficial.”

Despite the new obstacles in the way of the state finals, these coaches would rather give it their all than go home on the final day of team play.

“It's special for all three of us to get both teams to the state finals. It's not easy, but we can celebrate like crazy twice, no matter how short the time. I’m glad to be in the situation,” Knapas said.

“It’s better to coach in two state finals than not coach at all.”

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PJ Potter may reach PPotter@njadvancemedia.com