The NHS Swim Team is headed to regional competition at Texas A&M today with events scheduled Friday and Saturday.
Their ultimate goal is to break some school records and advance to state, and if their enthusiasm is a good measure for how likely that is to happen – NHS can expect it to.
Jackson Castleberry, Phil Franke, Cooper Hinson and Maddy Stout are a few of the seniors headed to regionals for the last time. Jordan Rankin and Alister Jackson are two of the freshmen going for the first time.
They are all excited about what the next two days will hold, and they will take with them the support of the entire school, which gathered for a send-off pep rally last period Thursday when the team boarded the bus.
Jackson Castleberry learned to swim when he was 2 years old, and he’s been competing for 11 years.
“I enjoy how well you can see your progression in swimming,” he said. “You can tell when you do well because of how specific the times are. You can feel it in the water, as well.”
The 100 free and 100 backstroke are his best events.
Jackson said he hopes he can be state champion this year. This weekend’s meet may even determine whether he swims in college. He knows college coaches will be watching.
“NHS is one of the districts that send the most kids to regionals,” Jackson said. “We are in Region 5, which is one of the fastest regions in the state. The competition in our region is strong. If you do well in our region, you’ll usually make finals at state. We usually go to state in at least one or two relays and one individual event every year.”
Jackson said that many people might not realize how hard it is to get to state.
“People might think that, because swim team has been sending kids to state for 20 years, it’s not hard to get there,” he said. “But it’s actually very competitive. We go to state every year because Coach Scroggins is a very good coach.”
All the other swimmers interviewed agreed with Jackson.
“Coach Scroggins is the best,” Phil said. “She’s like a second mom. We get on her nerves sometimes because we like messing with her. But it’s out of love.”
Jackson said Scroggins has a motherly attitude toward the swimmers.
“She makes us want to prove her right in front of the other coaches,” he said. “She makes us want to make her proud.”
Phil said he loves the atmosphere of the swim team and the people on the team.
“They’re like nobody else,” he said. Phil’s top events are the 100 breaststroke and the 200 Individual Medley.
“I take my training for regionals super-seriously,” Phil said. “I cut anything bad out of my diet. I rest a lot. I usually get about six hours of sleep, but before regionals I get 7 or 8. I also don’t go out as much.”
Phil said he shaves his whole body so he can move faster in the water.
As a senior on the team, Phil said he knows younger swimmers look up to him.
“I feel like they think, ‘If Phil can get there, I’ll get there eventually, too,’” he said.
Cooper Hinson will compete in the 100 breast stroke and all three relays this weekend.
“I have a chance to break the school record,” he said.
Cooper said he loves the environment and social connection with the swim team.
“Any time we have an issue, it’s not an issue for long,” he said. “We work through things together.”
Maddy said the team is like a family.
“The family environment is the best thing,” she said. “Going to regionals every year is my favorite memory. It’s so much fun. It’s intense, because everyone there is trying to make it to state. But it’s also fun.”
As freshmen going to regionals, Jordan and Alister said they feel “pumped.”
“I had siblings on the swim team, and I’ve been swimming since I was little,” Jordan said. “I have always enjoyed it a lot.”
Jordan said she always loved watching her older siblings compete on the swim team, and now it’s her turn.
“Days before the meet I keep my diet in check and rest a lot more,” she said. “I try not to stay up late with the ‘one more episode’ cycle. I try to get my work done earlier and take naps. Sleep is directly correlated with speed.”
Alister said there are some mornings when the 5:45 a.m. practice is tough, but he pushes through.
“Getting in the pool wakes me up,” he said. Alister said he channels his nerves at competition into the energy he needs to go faster.
“This will be my first time to experience swimming at A&M and seeing the pool there,” he said. “I can’t wait to feel the energy there.”
Swimmers competing at regionals include: Alyssa Becnel, Jackson Castleberry, Phil Franke, Cooper Hinson, Aidan Montes, Cosette Potter, Maddy Stout, Lexi Weems, Clayton Blackshire, Isabella Carrillo, Lily Choi, Zach Fickes, Sky Fredreigill, Holly Jaramillo, Sydney Lewallen, Ashton Stewart, Madison Ward, Diego Zendejas, Christian Castleberry, Daniel Chandler, Nathan Montes, Kaden Packard, Hannah Richey, Max Weems, Katie Cook, William Hinson, Alister Jackson, Vivyan Nieberding, Jordan Rankin and Garrett Schmid.
