Swim+Team+makes+a+splash

=**Swim Team makes a splash By: Lauren- Feature Editor**=

Burrell swimmers are some of the most dedicated athletes in the school district. While most students loathe swimming their standard amount of lengths during class, these students choose to immerse themselves in rigorous workouts everyday to prepare for swim meets. Simply watching the team warm up would exhaust most spectators. Even though these workouts may exhaust them, the swimmers never back down since they know it will only help them to succeed during meets. Head Coach Daniel Prager is sure to push his team to their maximum potential at every practice and every meet. He explains, “I would like to qualify as many people as possible for WPIALS. I would like to have my girls win sections.” The athletes are willing to accept these high expectations. Driven by hopes of claiming the section championship, they make each stroke count. Sophomore Maddie Pattock expressed, “I’m looking forward to the girls winning sections. We have a good-sized team, so I think we’re going to have a good record this year.” And based on their record of (-), these aspirations are more than attainable. Last year, the team only missed winning sections by one meet. Avid swimmers compete using strokes such as freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke in relays. Although participating on the team requires a heap of extracurricular hard work, these athletes enjoy coming and doing their best at each event. Junior Kahley Walker informed, “We would like for more people to watch, but we’ll still try our hardest no matter who is there.” The team has encountered a drastic roster change this year. Beneath the swim cap and goggles, the water is filled with new faces on the team. Prager realized, “I have the largest underclassman team I’ve had in all of my years of coaching and assistant coaching this year.” One of the most exciting experiences for a swimmer is their first meet as a member of the team. Joining in the chaos can be a rewarding experience can be fun and overwhelming at the same time. Freshman Cubby Walker agreed, “It’s harder than I expected it would be. We do more yards.” Seasoned athletes who are more accustomed to the team are used to the changing currents the team experiences. Sophomore Allie Landowski assured, “There are a lot more newcomers. The team pretty much doubled in size. But we didn’t lose many seniors, so we have basically the same chance at sections.”

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