Imagine it’s ten degrees out, the world surrounding you is blanketed in snow and ice, and you have to put on a bathing suit. That’s just another day for our swim and dive team here at Southern Lehigh. While the rest of us may hibernate in the winter months, bundled up in our warm attire, 40 dedicated swimmers cram onto a bus and head to Cedar Crest College, ready to jump into a pool for the day’s practice.
Just over a year ago, the girls’ swim and dive team finished their 2023-2024 season with a 9-2 record, securing bronze at the District XI championship, and, even, sending two relay teams and an individual swimmer to States. However, with high point-scoring 2024 graduates Isabelle Johnson, Brianna Wasem, and Grace Robinson taking their athletic talents to a collegiate level, the girls’ team entered the season set to face some challenges. With this heavy loss of seniors, the girls join the boys’ team in their fight to the top of the Valley.
In preparation for this season’s success, the team spends hours practicing each and every day. They start earlier than most Southern Lehigh students at 6:00 a.m. in the weight room, transitioning to multiple-hour practices after school at nearby college swimming pools. Through this, the athletes dedicate themselves and their time to constructing their physical and mental strength.
“The hardest part of swimming is easily the mental challenges you are constantly posed with,” senior captain Lillian Driscoll said. “When you don’t swim your best race, it is so easy to get down on yourself, but the constant support from our teammates and coaches are what ultimately help us through these challenges.”
At Southern Lehigh, the swim and dive team is lauded for their team camaraderie and tenured traditions. Among pasta parties prior to every meet, spirit days, inside jokes, and the renowned hair bleaching, dying, and shaving, the bond among the swim team is like no other.
“There is a family-like connection that is formed [among the swim team], and it continues to grow as the team grows.” Coach Katherine Steele said. “Through the highs and lows of competition as well as school work, the team is consistently there for one another… ensuring everyone’s success inside and outside the pool.”
And the term success is prevalent on both sides of the team. With several talented freshmen — including leading point-scorers Fernanda Sanz, Jacob Tsyvine, and Jayson Russo — making their mark alongside the more experienced swimmers, both the girls and boys teams possess winning records, nine meets into the season. At publication, the girls’ team sits at 8-1, and the boys’ at 5-4. Leading these numbers are senior Alexis Hoyer and sophomore Cameron Johnson for girls’, and junior Dylan Smith and sophomore Alexander Zabinksi for boys’.
All four of the boys’ losses were to AAA division schools: Parkland High School, Liberty High School, Northampton High School and Easton High School. While the girls team still competes in the AAA division, the boys team has moved to AA this season, a position that gives them confidence going into districts in February.
“The time qualifications are completely different now for the boys,” Coach Steele said, “[so] we are looking forward to a large, strong district team, lots of medals, state qualifiers, and hopefully a district title!”
Although the girls’ team still remains in the AAA division, this setback, and any others that may arise, doesn’t tell all. For either team, the road to victory is not a paved one, but there are ways to help make the path a little smoother.
“I think that my love for the sport, as well as the constant support from my teammates and coaches has helped me get through [any] challenge presented,” Driscoll said.