By: Katherine Lachcik, Reporter

Practices and meets are now in full swing, and the SHS swim team is on its way toward another great season. The team prepares for victories similar to last season: the boys’ team won the District Conference for the fifth year running, and the girls broke the school record in the relay last season.

The swimmers on both varsity and junior varsity train hard during the 2-3 hour long practices and throughout each season, and that work definitely pays off in the long run. Whether it’s a meet against another school or a state championship, the ‘Noles swimmers commit themselves to being the best.

Head coach Anthony Ackerson agrees, crediting hard work and discipline to the team’s success. “Believe it or not, the biggest thing is discipline,” he says. “Discipline leads to good work habits, and without discipline, you really don’t have anything.”

Through hard work and grueling practices involving sprints, distance sets, relays, and technique revision, the swim team has won many awards, broke records, triumphed at competitive meets, and much more.

“The whole team just comes out of working hard,” says junior Robert Lommerse, a junior who swims for varsity. Similarly, senior Thomas Ankerholz says “we do everything we can to increase our ability to swim better.”

The team has produced High School All-Americans, State Champions/Runners-up, and consistent Top Ten/Fifteen finishes at state level meets. This season, the swimmers look toward achieving more, both individually and as a team.

Sophomore Maddie Harris says she is looking forward to, “the swim meets, and getting new, better times.”

“They work unbelievably hard,” Ackerson says of the whole team.

Returning swimmers and new faces on the team promise an exceptional season for the ‘Noles all around. However, as many awards and achievements the team accomplishes this season, it all comes down simply to hard work, discipline, and motivation for the swimmers.