United LM swim team commences practice with stretching. (Kyle Perry) With the 2011–2012 winter sports season underway, there is a lot of talk in regards to the boys’ and girls’ swim teams. Previously split up amongst four different teams—boys’ swimming, girls’ swimming, boys’ diving, and girls’ diving—the squads combined this year to encompass all aspects of aquatic competition. The girls’ team, led by senior captains Simone Ziss and Ali Burgos, “will add some W’s to [their] record this year,” in the words of junior Sam Biben. The boys’ team, led by senior captains Sam Heyman, David Freedman, and Niles Binns-Davis also shows a lot of promise to have another stellar season. As the Aces become more competitive in the Central League, the requirements to join the team become more and more daunting.
The swim team faces tough workouts daily, with practice taking place both in the water and out of the water (dry land). Swim team members must expect about two hours of swimming and one hour of dry land per day, something not everyone can handle. According to Biben, training is “intense,” featuring not only swimming, but also other challenging exercises like “bear crawls, stairs, and yoga.” Not only is the swim team practicing after school in the pool—they truly show their commitment to the sport with pre-school practices twice a week, starting at 5:30 a.m. Before most students even arrive at school, the swim team has already done a full day’s work.
Each year, the team evolves around its new members and new captains, and this year is no exception. One of the most important differences this year is that the team is united under one front. No longer are there four distinct teams competing at the LM pool. They have all been condensed into one team—LM swimming. Ziss happily states, “It’s really great having one team. So far it’s been one of the best things about the beginning of the season, and winning all together will be awesome.” She further showed her optimism when she talked of “being [more] spirited, and cheering for everyone competing,” something that has led LM to have “a reputation for great sportsmanship.” LM possesses not just a talented group of swimmers, but also dedicated fans.
Every fan should be sure to come to the January 10 meet at Upper Darby, as well as LM’s senior night at Harriton on January 27. Senior fans especially will not want to miss LM’s seniors partaking in some of their final races for our school. Though it will not be staged in LM’s pool, the meet at Harriton is sure to be a fun-filled, festive night, as both LM and Harriton celebrate senior night. Ziss also hopes that “the turnout at swim meets will be better this year than last,” which everyone in the LM community can easily help achieve.
