As the season comes to an end, the UC High Swim Team is finishing strong, leaving behind a legacy of growth and hard work in the pool. Over the past few months, the team has demonstrated teamwork and resilience to improve with every meet.
From the very first race to the final events of the season, UC High swimmers consistently pushed themselves to achieve not only new personal records but also the ability to compete at a high level. Senior Kaylee Tichenor said, “My favorite part of swimming is the feeling of achievement and pride from pushing my limits and achieving what I never imagined I could be capable of.”
Being a senior on the team, Tichenor reflects on the dedication and leadership that helped shape the season. “There is a lot of comradery on the Swim Team, especially after the challenging sets we have been through together,” said Tichenor. Whether it was early morning practices or difficult meets, the team remained focused on improvement.
The underclassmen also made a significant impact, stepping up during meets and showing promise for the future of the program. Considering the team is made up of mostly underclassmen, they have learned to preserve and improve.
Sophomore Max McCauley, who has been on varsity since his freshman year of high school, said, “Of all the sports teams I’ve been on, very few come even close to the UC High Swim Team. Whenever we are together, there is always laughter and practices are always a vibe.”
This year especially, McCauley claimed that the team was a lot stronger in both chemistry and athleticism since there were a lot of new faces in last year. “Most of the game is mental, and the team’s strong chemistry affects your mental space and increases your morale – the higher your morale, the better you swim,” said McCauley.
Sophomore Elizabeth Lyons, who has also been on the school’s Swim Team since her freshman year, said, “What makes swimming such an easygoing and fun sport is the friendships you make along the way. Everyone on the team is friends, because everyone is so nice and welcoming.”
Lyons also said what made swimming her favorite sport was that it not only improved her overall speed and agility, which assisted her in other sports such as water polo, but also created meaningful relationships that carried on through the school year.
The sense of unity within the program is what truly sets UC High apart. Unlike many other sports, the Swim Team operates as one cohesive group, bringing together athletes from all levels to train and compete. “The Swim Team is unique in that everyone [JV and varsity] practiced, competed and participated in team bonding activities together, making it feel like one gigantic team,” said Tichenor.
This collective environment strengthened performance in the pool, helped facilitate lasting relationships, and reinforced the idea that success was a shared effort rather than an individual pursuit.