The Bryant swim and dive team placed 4th at an away swim meet on Jan. 25 at The Benton River Center. With a score of 236.5 points, Bryant achieved one silver medal and two bronzes. Junior Kaylee Dale scored first in the women’s individual medley with a time of 2:34.71. After last year’s championship, Bryant is currently ranked the number eight swim team in Arkansas.
To train for meets, the team holds practices everyday after school, and as a result, the team has formed a close bond.
”We’re super supportive of each other, it’s like a second family,” said Senior Izzy Sharp. “We hang out a lot outside of school and we always cheer each other on.”
Swimming is a very physical sport due to having to move your whole body against the resistance of water.
“It keeps you in good shape, there’s a reason old people do it a lot.” Said Sharp.
Swimming isn’t only physical though, there are many technical aspects in the sport such as learning the different types of strokes and what is the most effective way to swim in certain strokes.
“I like to explain swimming as being similar to track, where it’s kind of first hand nature but a lot of technique,” said junior Emory Givens.
Swimming is a very common skill with 85% of Americans able to do it, yet swim competitions have only recently started to gain more attention.
“My mother got me into swim lessons and I’m very competitive so that got me into the competitive aspect of it,” said Dylan Middleton.
While swimming is a physical sport, students like Givens claim it’s also a mental game.
“I get real in my head about swimming and then I get worked up about it,” Givens said.“It’s really defeating sometimes, but I just have to remember I’m in control of that.”
The team has completed nine meets this season and has collected a total of 355.38 points. In swim meets, there are 24 events for each team to compete in. The person with the fastest time in each scores the most points for his or her team.
Being on the team isn’t all about swimming; however, being on the team is also about creating special bonds between teammates.
“I love being on the team,” said Givens. “It’s like being a part of a big family. Our main team captains, Izzy and Jase, are amazing.”
Correction: Swim time and point totals were inaccurately reported. Swim time and point totals have been corrected. Tue, March 5th, 12:33 p.m.
