In swimming, progress is often measured in fractions of a second, but the dedication behind those improvements takes months of effort. This year’s swim team had eight qualified swimmers make it to state. Two of those swimmers were senior captains Ellie Krause and Colin McNerney. For both of them,  this season meant a lot because it allowed them to end their high school swimming careers in memorable ways.

For both seniors, this season felt very impactful, but for different reasons. Krause said, “This season has meant a lot to me personally because I am one of the only seniors on the team, and it’s my last season swimming.” She also said that this season has felt like a “finale,” which has allowed her to end her senior swim season on a high note. McNerney shared similar feelings. He said, “This season has been very meaningful to me… of course, it’s my senior year, but also having this many new people really means a lot.” Both seniors said it was a special opportunity to serve as leaders on the team.

Swimming is often referred to as an individual sport, but both of these swimmers would tell you otherwise. Personal goals and team goals are often intertwined, and everyone wants to do their personal best in an overall effort to help the team succeed. Krause explained how the scoring works, making sure to emphasize that every point an individual swimmer scores helps the team. Krause said, “It really is a team sport because you’re trying your best to get the most points.” McNerney doubled down on this statement, saying how everyone tries “dropping time and that helps relays go faster, and having relays go faster gets us on podiums.” McNerney spoke about how everyone wants to drop their overall time, especially on relay races, where multiple swimmers will swim a race together in order to try and achieve overall team success.

Behind those accomplishments is a demanding training schedule that many do not see. Both seniors described the preparation required to compete at a high level. Krause explained that most swimmers practice daily for several hours, often swimming long distances and completing dry land workouts in addition to time in the pool. McNerney described a similar routine, including six days a week of training and lifting sessions, with even more intense practices during school breaks. Both athletes agreed that the consistency and discipline required throughout the season is what makes qualifying for state so rewarding.

In the end, both athletes competed at the state tournament. Colin McNerney raced in the boys 200M freestyle and placed 13th. Ellie Krause raced in the girls 100M butterfly and placed 25th. Both swimmers had very successful seasons, capping it off by earning All-Ohio honors for their performances.

For Krause and McNerney, this season represents more than a final competition. It reflects years of early mornings, long practices, and steady improvement alongside teammates who have supported one another throughout the journey. Advancing to state serves as both a reward for their dedication and a meaningful way to close their high school swimming careers together.