Skyline Swim and Dive stay connected and strong.
The Skyline Girls Swim and Dive team is a remarkable group of people. To start off, the team has two hour practices everyday of the week but Sunday. This is a huge commitment of both time and energy.
“Honestly the most difficult thing about the season was just adjusting to the schedule of the practices,” said Kate Collins (‘29). “Getting up at 5 a.m. three mornings a week and having two-hour practices every day after school (and Saturday practice too) has been hard to adjust to.”
The practices aren’t the only thing that takes getting used to. The meets normally last around three hours but can be as long as six hours, depending on how many schools are participating. Normally the meets only include two or three teams but during SEC or other tournaments there can be up to seven, which makes the competitions last longer.
“For most of the season we compete against two to three teams at a meet but for invitationals and championships there is a lot more,” says team captain Teagan McCallion (‘26).
With so many teams all in one place, it can get really loud and hectic. Despite this chaos, the team’s morale never wavers. Everyday, at every practice, and at every meet, the team continues to lift each other up.
“We motivate each other, celebrate each other’s victories, and give each other tips while swimming,” said Collins. “We all push each other and get to see everyone improve, which makes watching people succeed so much more gratifying. Sometimes I’m happier for my teammates’ success than for mine, which goes to show just how much we care about each other.”
This year the team’s camaraderie has been amazing; without even trying they push each other to do their absolute best. “I feel like this season has been one of the best years so far in terms of team chemistry,” says McCallion. “Everyone’s morale was high and I never came to a practice without hearing supportive words and encouragement.”
The group of people that make up the swim and dive team are just so uplifting and amazing. People from previous years are wanting to join back just because of the environment that they missed.
“I have been a part of the team for two years,” said Maya Goldstein (‘26) “I joined my freshman year, and decided to come back for my senior year because of the amazing team atmosphere that I missed.”
