The 2024-2025 boys’ varsity swim season has officially come to a close, leaving behind a trail of impressive performances, personal bests, and unforgettable moments. From intense training sessions to thrilling competitions, the swimmers have showcased their dedication and grit. As the final times are tallied and the season wraps up, the team reflects on a year of growth, teamwork, and triumphs, both in and out of the pool.

The boy’s season wasn’t exactly amazing. It was more so a season of growth. The team was incredibly small this year, with new swimmers, making it difficult to compete against other teams.

“This season was really hard for me,” junior Rafael Dan Bartilad said. “I was a new swimmer, so I wasn’t the best, and I struggled to catch up to other swimmers, which hurt my ego a little bit.”

The entire team faced similar challenges, as victories seemed just out of reach. Despite their hard work, consistent wins were difficult to come by, and each meet felt like a test of both individual and collective resilience.

The boy’s varsity swim record was 5-1, with 5 meets lost and 1 meet won.

Andrew Selig, a junior, expressed his personal struggles during these losses.

“After several losses, I started to become upset,” Selig said. “I lost a lot of the confidence I had grown from practices, and overall felt like I was worthless. At one point the thought of swimming sounded like a nightmare.”

This being said, numerous swimmers shared these mutual feelings of defeat. It wasn’t until the boys had a huge win against Maine East that the tides began to turn.

After this win, the entire team experienced a surge of confidence. The victory acted as a turning point, revitalizing their spirit and fueling their belief in their own abilities. With renewed determination, each swimmer approached the next challenge with a newfound sense of purpose, knowing they had the potential to succeed together.

“During the season, I admit, I struggled staying confident in my swimming abilities,” junior Haktan Erel said. “However, after our big win against Maine East I felt like a new person, especially since we beat them on their home turf. All the mental blocks and feelings of defeat felt like they were lifted off my shoulders, and I felt determined to come back better than ever.

Reflecting back on the season, it’s evident that the journey was filled with both challenges and triumphs. Though the team faced initial moments of doubt and frustration, their growth was undeniable. The struggles they encountered ultimately shaped them into a stronger, more resilient group. 

“When I look back I don’t think I should have been so hard on myself,” Bartilad said. “My advice to all people struggling is just keep swimming.”