Hoping to make a splash in this fall season, girls swim and dive is practicing hard to prepare for their first few meets of the year.

”One goal I have for this group is always growth,” said Head Coach Kathryn Mroz-Binder. “It seems pretty basic, but I honestly believe sports like swimming and diving challenge us to find new ways to be exceptional while also learning more about ourselves.”

With over ten new members to the team, practices these first two weeks have been all about getting to know new teammates and friends.

Due to this influx of people, said junior Vivian Myers, “We’ll be able to see just how much effort these girls put into their sport and just how much growth they’ll accomplish throughout the season.”

Alongside these new faces, many returning members are solidifying their skills to prepare for the upcoming season.

“I can’t wait to see how our returning swimmers compete,” said Myers. “It’s been an honor to swim with these girls for the past three years and I can honestly call them my sisters.”

Throughout the season, these girls will swim hundreds of miles, and perform countless dives across practices and meets. Their seasons will culminate in either the Frosh-Soph Conference meet, the JV Conference meet, or IHSA Sectionals.

“I hope everyone looks back on the season as a successful one full of hard work, positivity, and resilience,” Mroz-Binder said when asked about team goals for the season.

Between the laps, the girls love spending time together at events like team picnics, pasta parties, and tailgating nights. These events give them time to bond as a team across age groups alongside the tradition of having “big sisters” and “little sisters”. Swimmers and divers across the grades are partnered up in order to meet new people and have more friendly faces to cheer them on at meets.

“Every day we work on improving and meeting new benchmarks and expectations together,” Mroz-Binder said. “Knowing how well this group works together and supports one another is truly remarkable.”

The girls swim and dive team kicks off their season next week at the Red/Grey Intersquad meet, and competes in their first official meet on September 4th at Schaumburg High School.