With their 2022 season coming to an end, MHS’ Girls Swim and Dive team reflect on their goals and favorite moments with the team. 

   “Overall it’s been a good year to date,” Head Girls Swimming and Diving Coach Rahul Sethna said. “We are third in the NSC with a very young team and we have placed higher than last year in many of our invites.” 

   Sethna also states how he believes things are finally getting back to how it was pre-pandemic, as last season the team encountered invites being “changed or postponed” and inconsistent off-season training. 

   Nadia Emso, one of the senior captains of the Swim and Dive team, also noticed a change in the team from last year.

   “Compared to last year, we have improved so much,” Emso said. “In most invites and meets, we have exceeded expectations and placed higher than previous years.”

   As a goal for the season, the team hoped to beat Lake Forest, a team that was “as good as [MHS’ Swim and Dive Team,] maybe better.” And, for the first time in six years, they did.

   “Our competitiveness and trust in each other really helped us in winning that meet,” Junior Kate Hill said. “It also helped us become more confident in ourselves and each other as a team.” 

   Other goals set, whether individually or as a team, have been met throughout the season, like winning the dance competition at the Hersey Jamboree Dance Invite.

   For Hill, the invite is her “favorite part of the season,” as the team won the invite and “worked hard on [the] dance.”

   “This invite allows each team to create a dance and get judged on [certain criteria],” Emso said. “This year we were the defending champions, and we won again.”

 As the season comes to an end, more goals are made, and the team is able to reflect on their favorite part of the swim season.

   “I usually like the end-of-season meets, as that’s where I see the girls accomplish the goals they set for themselves,” Sethna said. 

   Others enjoy the team bonding experiences.

   “My favorite part of the swim season is hanging out with the team after a meet,” Emso said. “After a long day on a hot pool deck I really enjoy eating food and talking with my teammates. They are a super fun group of girls, and this season has been both full of accomplishments and lots of laughs.”