Eight seniors. Three years of blood, sweat and tears. One goal: to be state champions.
Through the years, Jillian Nelson, Christina Santner, Megan Benson, Sarah Marquardt, Elizabeth Gianino, Hannah Tutera, Laura Klover, and Carolina Rae Dougan, the seniors on the 2012-2013 Notre Dame de Sion swim team, say they have formed an inevitable bond not only in the classroom but in the swimming pool.
“We are so close I think just because we are around each other so much,” Klover said.
The seniors are ready to lead their team to a victorious season. Although, Santner says, success will come from a different approach than previous seasons.
“Last year we were so focused and driven that it backfired. This year we want to have a different approach,” Santer said. “We want to be more relaxed when accomplishing what we need.”
This relaxed environment is easy to come by. These eight swimmers have a history together which they say has caused friendship to blossom into a sisterhood. These seniors have known each other longer than just the four years of high school which they say has made their friendship grow even stronger. Some of them are even childhood friends.
“We all knew each other before high school even started, we were all on the same club team,” Klover said.
The seniors are ready to lead their team to a victorious season. Although, Santner says, success will come from a different approach than previous seasons.
“Last year we were so focused and driven that it backfired. This year we want to have a different approach,” Santer says. “we want to be more relaxed when accomplishing what we need.”
All the swimmers started swimming at a young age. Klover started at two, while Dougan began her swimming career at ten.
Some of them have also spent many years swimming together. Nelson and Tutera swam on the Blazers together at the age of eight.
From pool to school, these seniors describe their relationship as a new experience every day.
“Our bond is so unpredictable. It’s crazy,” Tutera said. “Jillian and I fought yesterday. But we’re good now. We’re like sisters.”
With high energy, and a lot of leadership, the swim team seniors are pumped for the upcoming season. The seniors are not the only ones who are feeling invigorated for the next season.
Coach Winkeler also feels the energy radiating from his swimmers.
“This is a very, very hungry team.” Winkeler said. “I think a lot of the girls have unfinished business from last year, and are returning extremely motivated.”