Girls Workforce of the Yr Swim and Dive – Viking Journal

The Girls Swim and Dive group’s success will not be outlined by one race or one meet, however by a season of consistency and willpower that remained dominant all through the years. After hours of relentless exhausting work throughout apply and fixed assist from the swimmers, the  Vikings had been in a position to exceed expectations.  By capturing the SCVAL league title for the sixth straight 12 months, whereas remaining undefeated for the second 12 months in a row, junior swimmer Sabrina Meyers would say is a serious accomplishment.

“One of the biggest successes we’ve had with the team is our hard work during practice,” Meyers stated. “We try our best to support and uplift each other during hard sets, and I think that hard work really shows in our success at meets.”

After shedding loads of seniors final 12 months, the Vikings struggled to regain their momentum and begin this season off robust. Besides the lack of skilled veterans, they struggled to create connections with new swimmers, which made their communication, assist, and general unity weaker firstly of the season.

“A major challenge we faced was with really connecting with our new teammates and showing what Paly swim means to us,” Meyers stated.

Over time, these early challenges helped the group develop nearer, turning uncertainty into a possibility to redefine their id as a group. Senior swimmer Romy Kirby stated the group responded by altering its mentality from the very starting of the season.

That strategy helped set the tone for the rest of their season. Kirby famous that the groups’ success got here from how constantly they approached every day.

“This season felt consistent and unified,” Kirby stated. “We showed up every day and competed with confidence.”

That early wrestle turned a turning level quite than a setback. Instead of permitting a gradual begin to outline their season, the Vikings leaned into communication and accountability to strengthen their group tradition. Building chemistry with youthful swimmers and setting a tone for the season turned simply as vital as coaching occasions or meet outcomes.

“We communicate with each other,” Meyers stated. “It is so important to talk things out and let others know how you are feeling. We understand the stress that comes with being a swimmer and juggling other things.”

For Paly, having the ability to perceive what teammates are going by means of helps create a extra linked surroundings. That belief between the gamers carried over into apply, the place swimmers consistently pushed each other whereas additionally understanding when teammates wanted encouragement. Varsity swimmer, and junior Hannah Oh emphasised on the significance of getting the “next play” mentality.

Kirby echoed that very same mindset, saying the group all the time seemed forward quite than dwelling on errors.

“We stayed focused on the next race and didn’t dwell on mistakes,” Kirby stated.

Leadership additionally performed a serious function, because it was anticipated from every participant to be a worthwhile chief. “Leadership plays a big role in maintaining positivity and support,” Meyers stated. “When one person leads and cheers everyone on, others join in. It helps everyone know we’re all in it together.”

Oh additionally emphasised the group’s collective duty.

“We like to say that everyone has some sort of leadership, whether you are an underclassman or an upperclassman,” Oh stated. “That’s how a strong team bonds together.”

If one swimmer introduced enthusiasm to the deck, others adopted. If somebody was struggling, teammates observed and responded. Leadership turned a behavior throughout the group. The Vikings had been additionally prepared to be trustworthy with themselves when expectations slipped. According to Meyers, troublesome practices typically served as reminders that the group wanted to refocus.

“Having bad practices made us snap back into place,” Meyers stated. “We realized what was really happening and tried to improve.”

Kirby stated the moments of adversity they skilled helped to sharpen their focus quite than lose confidence.

“Some rough practices and meets forced us to refocus and hold each other accountable,” Kirby stated.

The Vikings acknowledged that profitable seasons are hardly ever excellent. What mattered to them was how shortly they responded. Again and once more, the Vikings confirmed that they may right themselves earlier than these moments turned developments.

At the identical time, the season was not constructed solely on stress and competitors. Oh stated most of the strongest reminiscences got here from smaller moments away from the pool deck.

“People look forward to the small enjoyable things, like cheering during practices or bonding after meets,” Oh stated. “It makes people actually want to be a part of the team.”

Those moments gave the season stability. Enjoying teammates, celebrating progress and spending time collectively after meets helped flip exhausting work into one thing sustainable. It additionally helped clarify why the Vikings maintained robust power so constantly.

Meyers stated that stage of assist made this group stand out.

“I haven’t been on a team like this where everyone is so supportive of each other,” Meyers stated. “We will always have people cheering for each other, whether it is during practice or meets, and that is really special to the team as a whole and me.”

That not solely carried the group by means of challenges but additionally established them as a typical for what an entire and well-connected program can obtain. By the tip of the season, the Paly women swim & dive group had proven why it remained as one of many strongest packages on campus. The Vikings mixed self-discipline and chemistry in a method few groups may match. Their success was not based mostly on one star swimmer or one defining meet. It got here from a roster the place each swimmer mattered, and each efficiency added to the group’s success.

Roster:

Yuka Hara

Romy Kirby

Fallon Porter

Ashley Shin

Ella Rosenfeld

Hannah Oh

Katherine Kirk

Julianna Stonich

Sabrina Meyeres

Elizabeth Soedarmono

Sienna Marku

Jasmine He

Angela Chen

Jocelyn Guo

Imani Billip

Eliot Haemer

Chloe Haemer

Yardenne Sternheim

Coach:

Danny Dye

Honorable Mention Flag Football

Paly’s flag soccer group entered the autumn decided to rewrite their narrative after ending 0-10 a season in the past, the place they completed 16-4 this season. In simply this system’s second season, the Vikings reworked into one of many high groups within the space, ending 16-4 general and claiming the SCVAL league championship title. Paly additionally certified for the first-ever CCS flag soccer postseason, incomes a spot within the division I bracket as the highest seed. For a program coming off a winless debut season, the turnaround was one of the spectacular on campus. Sophomore Soko Mataele states how the group embraced a brand new mentality centered on self-discipline and accountability.

“We didn’t let the 0-10 season define us,” Mataele stated. “We just practiced harder, disciplined ourselves, worked together, stopped making excuses.”

That shift in mindset turned seen on the sphere. After coming into the season with just one purpose of reaching their first win in program historical past, the Vikings shortly raised their expectations. Sophomore co-captain Eleanor Wells stated the group’s confidence grew with every victory.

“Everyone knew that we went 0-10 last season, so our one goal was to win a game. After our first win, we just kept trying our best and striving for more.”

What began as a group looking for progress quickly turned one of the dominating teams in league play. Paly not solely received the SCVAL league title, but additionally delivered memorable performances all through the season, like a 73-0 victory over Lynbrook in October. Whether dealing with shut video games or moments of stress, the group stayed composed and moved on to the following play.

“We respond to pressure and setbacks well,” Mataele stated. “My team adopted a next-play mentality where we took our losses as an opportunity to improve.”

For a program nonetheless in its early levels, the Vikings made it extremely clear that final 12 months doesn’t outline them. Through stronger chemistry and dedication to enchancment Paly’s women’ flag soccer group reworked from a winless group into dominating league champions. They created momentum that may carry into subsequent season and proved {that a} troublesome starting doesn’t decide who they will turn out to be.