Members of the swim team, like sophomore Marley Pope, traded their backpacks for goggles and gave up the dry comfort of other sports for the aquatic isolation of competitive swim.

The practices which were difficult and exhausting for Pope, made her proud at the sight of her progress and encouraged her to raise her limits little by little.

“Our after-school practices are pretty hard,” Pope said. “Our coach tries to push us to our max to make us better swimmers, and I am proud of all the effort I am putting in right now because I am now seeing the progress.”

What started as a fun summer hobby quickly became a major passion for junior Kate Samuels. At six years old, Samuel’s parents signed her up for swim. As her experience and efforts increased, so did her admiration for the racing water, where she made many friendships with her team members. Throughout the moments of doubt and dazed thoughts, Samuel’s love for the sport kept her grounded.

“I‘ve always liked swimming,just in general,” Samuels said. “Then as I learned and kept going and really fell in love with the sport, it’s just part of my life, and almost all my friends have come from swim. I mean, my life pretty much revolves around swim. There have been moments that I’ve been flustered and or frustrated because I haven’t gotten the time I wanted, but for the majority, I love what I do.”

Despite having pushed himself in every practice, junior Tristan Merkl faced difficult challenges, having found his way through rough waters. When the seconds weren’t dropping as fast as he hoped, Merkl relied on a different kind of strength to keep him going and growing.

“Right now, I’m just kind of at a plateau where I can’t seem to PR (Personal Record),” Merkl said. “But I just trust in what God has coming. If it’s not your time, then it might be your time later, gotta keep putting in that work and effort, and hopefully it changes.”

For Pope, the pool deck served as a sanctuary where she felt safe to be vulnerable and spirited. She noted that the formalities of the classroom were replaced by a supportive and often hilarious camaraderie. The unique environment allowed Pope and the other members to be silly and authentic with one another.

“Our team dynamic can be a little chaotic at times, but usually we always try to have each other’s backs and always try to be there for one another,” Pope said. “Everyone is usually pretty funny and makes me laugh till my stomach hurts. Especially Isabelle (Dekinder) she is the funniest.”

Having felt the occasional sting of defeat, Samuels remained confident in the strength and abilities she gained over the eleven years she spent honing her craft.

“I feel upset (after a loss), but I know that if I keep putting in effort, I can come back stronger and better,” Samuels said. “I think of why I’m doing this sport and how much I’ve put into it and how many challenges I’ve overcome…I couldn’t think of another sport I’d rather do.”