Erin Cummins graduated Pillow Academy in 1988 and Delta State University in 1992. She attended graduate school at Mississippi State University and finished the masters program at Delta State in 1994. She obtained Doctor of Medicine in 1998 from University of Mississippi and finished surgical residency from UMMC in Jackson, MS.

She began swimming age group at age 10 for Tupelo Aquatic Club then swam for Jonesboro Jets age 11-12. Once back in MS, she for DAC/DSUA from 1983-1988. During her training, she spent 3 weeks every summer swimming with the "elite" group at University of Alabama Don Gambrill Swim Camp with the Olympic coaches. She was a Mississippi state champion in the backstroke and freestyle and was part of the Junior Olympic Team/ Zone team representing MS in Southern Swimming Association. She swam Division 2 for Delta State University and made All Conference my freshman year along with academic all conference the remaining years. She was part of DSU relay that made top 16 in the nation. She coached age group swimming from 1988-1993 for DSUA: Greenwood Chapter - Twin Rivers and obtained my coaching certification in 1991 from the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. She gave swim lessons and stroke clinics to children and was also a lifeguard instructor. In 1994, she retired from coaching and attended medical school. Coach Cummins currently maintains coaching membership and certification with USA Swimming. She is currently a general surgeon with Surgical Clinic Associates at Baptist Colonades and on staff at Baptist Hospital, Merit Health River Oaks, Womans, and Madison. Her son Tyler graduated from MRA in 2011 and Trilby has been attending from K3 to present (going into 7th grade).We attend Chapel of the Cross and have lived in Madison since 1994.

Swimming is the only sport with no half times, no substitutions, no time outs, and you get only one shot at your goal. If you have a lane, you have a chance. It is a sport that can continue lifelong and can be used as a primary or an adjunct to other sports. Many swim for personal goals, not just competition. The MAIS has elevated the sport of swimming and private school swimming will follows the public school format with more challenging events, more meets and a longer season. Erin was pulled out of retirement to lead the MRA high school swim team in the winning tradition clinching the Overall MAIS State High School Swimming 2021 Championships.

I believe anybody that strives to improve themselves is a winner. As their coach, I am here to push athletes to limits swimmers don't even realize, understand weaknesses, know their potential, be at the level with each individual and care. I will encourage swimmers to set goals and to be their own critic while they learn how to handle performance anxiety. This might be one's only athletic experience, and I hope they fall in love with it.

Mary Beth Lobenstein Taylor grew up swimming for the East Montgomery YMCA Barraudas. She attended Southeastern Championships and Regionals along with YMCA Nationals in Florida. She swam Division II at Delta State University being Coach Cummins teammate and sorority sister, and helped win the first Conference Championship for the Lady Statesmen. She served as a team captain and held many individual and relay records. She has been inducted into DSU's Athletic Hall of Fame. She coached summer swimming in Montgomery, AL During summer breaks in college, she coached Greenwood Country Club branch of DSUA. She went on to coach year round age group swimming after college for Starkville Dogfish in Starkville, MS. She is now a nurse practioner for Jackson Oncology Associates and has continued to coach summer league at the Club at The Township for the past 9 years and serving as aquqtics director while being a wife and mom. This will be her 6th year coaching at MRA and led the Patriots to their first overall state championship win in 2019. Coach Mary Beth plans to continue leading our elementary swimmers.