After a standout year that ended in a league championship and a top eight finish at CCS, the Paly Girls Swim team has the potential to blow last year’s results out of the water. With hard work and consistent dedication to the sport, the team hopes to bring up the energy this year and send more girls to CCS than the impressive seven swimmers last year.

Many athletes from last year have returned for another fun season in the water. One such swimmer is Brooke Hudacek who swims the 200 and 500 yard freestyle.

“So far our team energy has been amazing and we’ve got a lot of talent. I really am excited to bond and get to know more people on the team,” Hudacek said. “I think it’s going to be an exceptional season if we put in the work and I am super optimistic about the outcome.”

The team is working extra hard this year to exceed last years high standards. These devoted swimmers have nine practices per week, attending morning practices and weekend practices to keep in shape for the upcoming meets.

The diving team, while losing valuable seniors and their previous coach for the start of their season, continues to excel in their journey to CCS. With many new athletes joining this year, the team has a lot of new talent and so much potential.

“I’m so excited for this season,” Diver Julia Lawrence said, “I am new to the sport and have never participated before so I am hopeful that I can learn and grow with the team while also creating a bond with some of the girls.”

In addition to having many new players, the diving team struggled to find a coach for the first weeks of practice.The new players were taught and instructed primarily by team captain Mateo Diaz and returner Alena Lotterer.

“I’m excited for this years dive season because we have more people on the team, its much lower stress than our club season, and I’m excited to be back in a competitive setting,” Lotterer said.

Megan Parker, last years diving coach, made a sudden return after a few weeks of practice to reclaim her spot as the Paly Diving Coach. Since then, new players and returners have had the opportunity to learn new dives and get a better understanding of the sport in time for meet season.

Overall, the Girls Swim and Dive team season is expected to be a fun but also fiercely competitive one.