Walk by the pool after school and you will see swimmers donning Speedos and slicing through the water, a sure sign that competition is just around the corner.
The Paly swim team hopes to capitalize on last year’s success by winning a league championship and possibly claiming the Central Coast Section title. Bellarmine College Preparatory has won CCS for the past 27 years, but with the Paly boys taking second last year at CCS and the girls in third place, Paly has the best public school record.
“I am very excited about our upcoming season,” senior swimmer Liv Jensen said. “We have a couple new freshman who I think will definitely add to our depth in the sprint events and relays. I think we are poised to win another league championship and take a shot at the CCS crown.”
Coach Danny Dye maintains that both the girls and boys swim teams will be a force to be reckoned with when competition starts next week.
Freshman D.J. Fotsch insists, “The people on the team are always encouraging one another during difficult sets.”
The boys and girls teams can be seen working out before and after school, combining dry-land and water exercises.
“We have been in the weight room throughout the off-season and maintain a rigorous workout schedule during the swim season,” senior Brandon Lee said.
The team can always be seen together, whether on the quad at brunch or hanging out on weekends.
“The team dynamic is great even though the sport of swimming is very much about the individual,” Fotsch said. “When I joined the team I though it would be hard to get along with the older kids but so far it has been great and the seniors are hilarious.”
Returning swimmers are also adding a wealth of experience to the varsity roster.
“A couple of girls to look out for this year are sophomore Kaitlyn Tracy and junior Lucy McComas,” Jensen said. “Both have made tremendous strides over the past year.”
The first meet of the season is Friday Feb. 29 against Woodside.