Written By: Olivia Di Guilelmo, Staff Writer
KICKOFF: Poly’s Swim Team prepares to dominate its new Spring season!
Poly’s sports teams have had a good 2023-2024 year. As we approach the last couple of months of the school year, the time has come for the swim team to show off its talent for all to see! With the success of last year, the team has officially been moved up to Division One.
The environment on the pool deck is one that constantly promotes positivity and diversity. With the presence of such a good group of swimmers, every practice is filled with little jokes and laughs in between each swim set. Head Coach Grisham and the assistant coaches Ivanna and Garret, ensure that each participant of the team is shown great affection and knows the importance of their involvement with the sport. Coach Grisham takes account of the progression of each swimmer on the team and provides positive input to his students, whether simply at practice, or at meets.
As the coaches always aim to do what is best for the team, they have selected amazing captains for the new season. Seniors Miguel Buan and Adam Yrungaray are great role models as the male co-captains of the team. Junior Elizabeth Chinchilla, is also very dedicated to the well-being of the team, and embraces her title as another co-captain of Varsity, along with Senior Abby Cazares.
When asked, the swimmers of the team are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the sport at Poly. Madison Faulkner (11), “[loves] to spend time with her friends and brother” at meets. Cheering on peers and providing good sportsmanship to the other team is an aspect of Poly’s swim team that our school takes pride in. The support for our athletes is constantly through the roof, no matter who is in the water.
One annual favorite of Poly’s swimmers is the Green and Orange themed swim meet. Christian Prince’s (10) “favorite part of the season is the Green and Orange Meet”, where the swimmers are split into the two colors as teams to compete against each other for the highest score. This event never fails to provide amazing memories for the athletes of the swim team, as well as the spectators of the meet. It motivates the participants to try their best and have fun while doing so!
Poly Swim’s community is one that attracts diversity. The team is made up of many different individuals from various poly communities. Students from Band, Choir, other sports, and more participate in swimming as a fun extracurricular that provides new friends and opportunities. The team also has two of our own Poly Bear Pals swimming with us this year. Marc and Chase have become extremely active as the season begins, and push each other to do their best everyday in the pool. Poly Swim is very prideful in its success as a competitive school, as well as its ability to create such a welcoming environment on campus! The season has barely begun, but the team already made many great accomplishments.