Spake steps down as West Davidson swim coach

Wed. February 22, 2012 at 11:40 p.m. | By Mike Duprez

Few people are as passionate about swimming as Carl Spake, but the veteran West Davidson coach has found out that there are only so many hours in the day.

The owner of a detox facility in North Wilkesboro, Spake found himself juggling a business which requires a daily round trip commute of two hours and coaching a Green Dragon team that he essentially created.

“When I am coaching, I become obsessed,” Spake said. “All I do is think about swimming.”

But the increased demands of his business over the last two years got to be too much and Spake announced Wednesday that he is stepping down as West coach after 14 seasons.

Spake, who was assisted by his wife Mary Spake and Randy Rouse, leaves behind a trail blazed in gold. The Dragons won the 1-A/2-A girls state championship in 2010 and West swimmers won 20 individual state championships. West won 10 conference championships — five in girls and five in boys. West’s boys finished third in the 2011 1-A/2-A meet. At the time of Spake’s arrival in 1998, swimming at West was still not yet a varsity sport.

“He took a club team sport in 1998 and turned it into a state champion in 2010,” said West athletic director Charles Elmore in an email statement.

That was the height of a long run of success.

“It was a lot of fun,” Spake said.

It was also personal. Spake’s children have been standout swimmers. Gavin Spake, who now swims for UNC Wilmington, dominated with six state titles and daughter Dylan Spake won a pair. Twin sons Garrett and Job Spake have had high placings in state meets.

“My children are the real reason I got into it,” Spake said. “I wanted there to be an avenue for my kids once they got to high school. But you get to the point when it’s time to move on and do other things.”

Spake still has swimming on his mind, noting that a standout girl swimmer who’s now at the middle school will eventually be at the high school.

“Two or three years is a long time to wait,” Spake said with a chuckle.

Spake is also the former coach of the Reeds Swim Club, which was a powerhouse in the Davidson County Aquatics Association for over a decade.

Elmore said a search for Spake’s replacement would begin immediately.

Mike Duprez can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 218 or mike.duprez@the-dispatch.com.