Juniors, Annie Willis and Iyla Freed, walk alongside each other during a Watauga High School home swim meet. Photo Credits: Watauga Yearbook
Scarlett Rupp, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn
At Watauga, the swim team is more than just a group of athletes. They are a tight-knit family bonded by their consistent workouts and shared memories. With every splash and stroke, the Watauga swim team shows their true strength through their passion, determination, and the support they give each other, both in and out of the water.
Lainey Johnston, sophomore, involved in cross country and track, joined the swim team this year, drawn by its strong sense of camaraderie and the rewarding nature of the sport. Balancing multiple sports alongside her academics, she explains what it means to be a three-sport athlete.
“I did cross country in the fall, and then I did indoor and outdoor track in the spring last year,” explained Johnston. “I wanted to switch it up, so I decided to swim instead of indoor [track]. But then I realized how much I missed indoor, so I decided to do both.”
Due to Johnston’s demanding schedule, she has been diligent in communicating her needs in order to succeed in her classes. Her biology teacher, Ms. Vestal has been especially supportive.
“In bio, I have a bunch of homework, so I told my biology teacher that I have two sports going on, and she helps me schedule deadlines that work for me,” said Johnston.
Savannah Duvall, junior, faced different challenges when it came to joining the swim team as a sophomore year, alongside other experienced swimmers.
“Last year was my first year swimming which was kind of hard because there were a lot of people on the club team who have been swimming for a really long time,” stated Duvall. “It was hard to just jump in but they do a good job of merging everyone.”
Duvall plans to continue swimming for another year. Though this is only her second year on the team, she has learned valuable lessons and developed many fond memories.
“I love home swim meets because there are so many people there and it’s so encouraging because everyone is super energetic,” said Duvall. “Swim shows a good example of how to be uplifting to your teammates through hard meets.”
Annie Willis, junior, explains what inspired her to participate in swim, going into high school.
“I’ve always swam since I was little,” said Willis. “I just love being in the water and being in control of what I am doing. I love the way it makes me feel.”
Willis explains that her favorite part of being on the swim team is not only improving, but getting to practice and race against her teammates. She also describes how each practice brings them closer together.
“My favorite part about swim is going to see my friends and holding each other accountable to finish the workout,” said Willis. “Swim is really difficult, but is also really fun when you put effort in and are surrounded by a good environment.”
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