The Aqua Tribe begins its season tomorrow in Big Spring with a second place district finish and regional qualifying times to defend from last year.
The swimmers are feeling the pressure of matching last year’s team.
“There is a lot to live up to because the ones who graduated did all the relays,” sophomore Jesseca Sumpter said. “Now we have to learn them and do well.”
The new team members are making progress coming up to speed.
“It’s looking good,” Coach Tim Sage said. “We have some that have experience and others that don’t. We have a good group of rookies.”
With new team members come new leaders. Sage said he is depending on seniors Connie Friesen, Matt Mares and Jonathan Whisenant.
“It’s kind of cool and awesome at the same time having everyone looks up to me,” Friesen said. “I have to push really hard for everyone to work hard and to be like the team leaders.”
Women’s relay teams took a beating with graduation, leaving only Friesen and Sumpter. Freshmen will make up the rest of the women’s relays.
“We have eight returning members and nine rookies,” Sage said. “We’ll have to work with them to get them up to pace.”
For veterans, faster times and more economical swim strokes are the goal.
“I’m working my hardest in practice,” Whisenant said. “I’m trying to do my best.”
As the season begins, the team is still looking for more members to join it on its quest for regionals this year.