La Quinta High School’s boys’ swim team kicked off their season on March 8, winning a match against Palm Springs. The team is working hard, as they are looking to beat their toughest competitors: Palm Springs High and Xavier College Prep.

“The competition is as good as it’s ever going to get,” said Spencer Lowell ‘18. “We’re working hard to try and win the league.” To prepare for their swim meets, the boys are given sprinting sets to help develop their bodies adapt to swimming competitively.

“During practice, our bodies are being trained to learn and experience pain,” said Lowell. “As the season progresses, we learn our technique, but it’s important to be able to learn to swim through pain, fight through it, and continue.”

As for team goals, the boys are striving to win the league. For most of the team, this is their last year and it’s the path that everyone wants as they have a strong bond outside of the sport.

“Swim’s a hard sport,” said Lowell. “It’s not nearly as fun as water polo, but a lot of the guys do it because they like being together. Swim, it’s you and the wall and your mind going back and forth. You’re racing time, trying to beat other people. It’s fun in a different aspect than water polo.”

The La Quinta High girls’ swim team commenced their season on March 8, with a win against their toughest competitor, Palm Springs. The Blackhawks had a meet on April 12 against Xavier Prep to determine whose outlook is in favor of the DVL title. Due to publication deadlines, this swim meet will not be reported in this issue.

“Xavier is probably our biggest competitor,” said Hannah Durkee ‘18. “It’s definitely nerve-wracking going up against them, but that’s also what makes it so fun is having good competition.”

Unlike other sports, swimming is not always a team effort, even though the score is an accumulation of the team’s points. Individual events get swimmers further along in the season. Additionally, team dynamics are incredibly crucial. Without the right amount of support and a good atmosphere, it’s difficult to perform well.

“We would love to [be] number one in DVL and a big goal for us is going to CIF, competing well there, and overall improving,” said Durkee. “In swim, you’re literally racing against a clock, yes, there are other people in the lanes but time is your biggest competitor. You are always trying to improve your time each time you get in the pool.”

Just like in sports where you are competing with several other teammates, swim, in many ways is a social, emotional, and physical group effort.

“We practice on the same team and do the same set on the same interval pushing each other to do our best,” said Durkee.