By Chloe Oliver
A 500-yard race in swimming is 10 down and backs in a 25-yard pool. It takes around six minutes for an advanced swimmer to complete this race. What goes on in her head while swimming for that long?
She thinks about her homework as she kicks back and forth and translates songs from English to Spanish to give her brain something to do.
“I felt in the distance events I swam, the 500 and 200, it is very easy to get burnt out,” junior Alivia Jackson said. “You do the same stroke the whole time and it’s a long distance. I’m trying to keep a more positive attitude (this season).”
Jackson is a key swimmer on the girls’ swim and dive team. This winter, the team is seeking the sectional championship trophy for the fourth year in a row.
The boys’ swim and dive team has a large increase in numbers this season, which could benefit them in their dual swim meets.
Last year, the girls qualified every event to state except for the 100 breaststroke. They were able to get more people to state than they ever had.
A year ago the girls went undefeated, won 11 of 12 events at sectionals, and got second place in both the Hoosier Heritage Conference meet and the Noblesville Invite. They have gone undefeated in dual meets for three years straight.
“We lost a few strong girls, but we still have a really strong group of girls,” co-head coach Alison Jackson said. “I’ve got some freshmen coming up that I’m excited to see what they can do.”
Last season, Alivia won all four of her events at sectionals. This includes the 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, the 200 freestyle, and the 500 freestyle. She went to state for each of these events.
Twelve years ago, Alivia started swimming at age 5. For her, it is second nature. She is a part of Cardinal Swim Club and swims year-round.
Many girls on the team have known each other through club swim. Others have just known each other through school. Alivia feels like her team is a second family.
“Last year, my sister was on the team, so I kind of didn’t want to stand out too much because she was a senior,” Alivia said. “So this year I’m trying to not put myself down to lift up others. I’m just going to try to lift everyone up together. ”
Alivia may swim new events this season, possibly going into the 100 butterfly and the 200 individual medley, which were her older sister Annie’s events.
Senior Eleanor Groves is another key swimmer. Last season, her best event was the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.4 seconds.
Elle began swimming competitively in seventh grade.
Last year, she had to work through injuries from a misaligned pelvic bone. To combat that issue, this year she plans to include more physical therapy.
Elle said she admires senior Jordan Bunch’s ability to lift up teammates. It inspires her.
Elle has a specific meal plan for the day before and the day of a swim meet. The night before, she eats chicken fingers. The morning of, she has fried eggs, sourdough toast and black coffee, then eats pasta for lunch.
“In conference last year, Jordan and I swam in lanes next to each other for the 100 and we were both going for our best time,” Elle said. “As soon as we touched the wall, I just hugged her because we both got really good times.”
This year, Elle hopes to come back at state finals for the 100 free.
On Monday, Nov. 17, El signed to further her athletic and academic career at Eastern Michigan University.
Freshman Mallory Simmons will be building strength as she recovers from scoliosis surgery over the summer.
The boys’ swim team has 22 swimmers. Last year, they had a smaller team, finishing the season with six wins and five losses. They placed third in the Hoosier Heritage Conference meet and the Noblesville Invite.
Junior Eljiah Brown is an important part of the boys’ swim team. His best event a year ago was the 100-yard breaststroke at a time of 1:05. He finished fifth overall in sectionals last year.
This season, he wants to achieve a better work ethic. He hopes to work out more and be more focused at practice.
Since sixth grade, Eljiah has been swimming competitively. He also swims with Cardinal Swim Club.
While in the water, his brain constantly thinks about what his coaches have said to him.
“I would say it is probably one of the best communities within sports at Delta,” Eljiah said. “We’re all able to talk to each other, and it seems like almost everyone on the team are friends.”
The fact that the tiniest of adjustments in your stroke or how you kick could affect your overall time is interesting to Eljiah. Swimming includes a lot of little details.
Eljiah said he brings some of the energy and optimism to his team.
Senior Hudson Ewing is another key swimmer. His best event was the 50 freestyle with a time of 0:22:50.
He has been swimming for six years since seventh grade.
Two years ago, his relay team placed first in sectionals, so they were able to advance to state. He went with Zach Baty, Sam Stokes and Josiah Hotmire in their relay.
Counting his strokes while swimming helps keep him at a steady pace as well as get the time that he is aiming for.
“Since last year, I gained 20 pounds,” Hudson said. “Most of it’s muscle, and I hope that allows me to swim faster and get into shape faster so that I can get ready for sectionals and conference coming up.”
He plans to grow this year by getting in the weight room more often. Hudson also plays for the soccer team, and the cardio that he practices for soccer is different than swim.
In the weight room, he would like to train his cardiovascular endurance specifically for swimming.
Before he steps on the block, he says “deus ubique est,” which is Latin for God is everywhere. He also recites the Bible verse Isaiah 40:31.
But those who trust in the Lord shall receive new strength, they will fly on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Hudson has made many ties that make this team feel like family. Last season, his mentor was Josiah Hotmire, who inspired Hudson and was optimistic. As a senior, it is now his turn to be a mentor to his younger teammates.
One younger teammate who should make a big impact is Patrick Bowman.
“Patrick has swam club for the last few years,” co-head coach Alison Jackson said. “He was kind of the star of the middle school boys’ team. I know he’s got some records he’s already eyeing because his uncle has some records on our record board, and he’d like to take them down.”
Coach Jackson will focus predominantly on swimming, and co-head coach Laura Seibold will focus on diving.
A new opponent this year will be Bluffton High School. This is the first time the team has competed against Bluffton in a dual. Bluffton’s boys’ swim team has won sectionals for the past two years.
The diving team has also increased in numbers. They will face a difference in coaching. Tre Phillips, a 2023 graduate from Delta, was on the dive team in high school. He will be trained to coach diving alongside Coach Seibold.
Senior Grier Backus will enter her fourth year of diving. Her best dive is an inward one and a half.
Last year, she broke her foot during soccer season. She only was able to dive for one month out of the whole season.
“It was just like such a quick transition and being mentally prepared to just hop into all of that, and just literally having no fear because if I had fear, it wouldn’t have worked,” Grier said.
On meet days, she usually gets some type of chicken and energy drink from the gas station to keep her fueled.
Going into this season, she is eager to try new things and fly through the air in different ways.
She enjoys the fear factor that diving brings to her, and that there are many combinations of dives and different ways to do them. The possibilities seem endless.
There are multiple freshmen cheerleaders on the dive team.
“I mean, they already know how to flip. Now we’ve got to do it into the water,” Coach Jackson said.
The boys’ dive team only has freshmen divers.
Freshman Teagon Condie is the only diver who dove in middle school. He has been diving since seventh grade. He said he wants to be supportive and open to help his teammates who are still learning to dive.
Teagon’s favorite dive is the front one and a half.
This season, his goal is to work on his back dives. During the end of his eighth grade season, back dives became more of a challenge. He would also like to learn reverse dives and twists.
He enjoys the complexity that diving offers.
“We play for the team on the front, not the name on the back,” Coach Jackson said. “As long as you love your teammates more than you love yourself, that’s when you become a team.”
