As the Wildkat swimmers prepare for a new season, they are ready to train hard and achieve their goals. In addition to their individual goals, the teams have set goals as well.
“This season I hope to achieve 3rd place or higher as a team in the NCC meet,” said junior Morgan Rakestraw. “I also hope to achieve an individual NCC win in the 200 IM.”
Senior Aubrey Simmons is hoping to make her fourth appearance at the state finals this year, but her primary goal is a little more laidback.
“This year, since it’s my senior year, my main goal as a team is to have as much fun as I can with my teammates,” she said. “But a personal goal for this year is to make it back to state for the fourth time and get top three at state in the 100 Backstroke and top five in the 50 free.”
For Simmons, the memories she makes outside of the pool are just as important as what happens inside the pool.
“So far the highlight of my season is the entire team getting breakfast after a Saturday morning practice. The team’s version of team bonding is going out to grab breakfast or dinner whether it’s after practice or a meet,” she said. “This is one of my favorite things to do that we have been doing all four years that I have been swimming. I think it makes the team closer as a group and we all have a great time with each other.”
Boys’ swimmers Isaac Flamino and Oliver Taskey are focused on earning individual wins to help their team scores.
“My goals are to make a top 10 finish in my respective events and help my relays place a top three,” Flamino said.
As the season progresses, the teams are forming bonds that help them in and out of the pool.
“Everyone on the team understands the hard work swimmers must put in. We get to spend a lot of time together including several times a day for practice and each weekend,” Rakestraw said. “This has formed a bond between the upper and lower classmen.”
Taskey agrees. Practicing together helps the team come together.
“The swim team by far has the best atmosphere out of all the sports I’ve been a part of. It really feels like one massive family,” he said. “I think we all grow so close because we all suffer together in practice.”
Both the girls’ and boys’ swim teams will kick off Winter Break with a meet against Logansport on Saturday.
