Shorewood’s Boys swim and dive has been one of Shorewood’s leading sports for years now. From hour and a half long practices to meets that can sometimes last up to three hours, the athletes on this team work hard in the pool competing against other swimmers within the state. “The [meets] usually last for about three hours, but divers are allowed to leave early after diving is done,” says Aiden Witt, freshman diver on the Boys swim and dive team.
While the two teams are combined in name, their practices and meets are often very separate: the swim team practices take place at Innis Arden and the dive team practices are held at Helene Madison Pool with the Shorecrest Dive Team. Their meets are also pretty separate too, “[We’re] mostly on our own, with the exception of the Kamiak meet,” says Witt.
But the meets and practices aren’t the only thing making up the team. There is a rich community full of traditions alive in the Boys swim and dive team. “For the most part we are really close and are all good friends,” says James Mitchell, freshman, “The swim meets get really hyped when we are all cheering for each other and getting loud which is really fun as well.”
Andrew Mitchell, senior, is a four year varsity swimmer and captain for Shorewood’s Boys swim and dive team. “I have been swimming since I was young both on summer league teams and a year round club team so joining a team with all my friends in high school sounded like an awesome experience,” Andrew Mitchell says. As one of the senior members on the team, Andrew Mitchell has first hand experience with the various traditions on the team. “My favorite tradition is probably when we go to Buffalo Wild Wings every year after one meet of the season. It has been super fun every year with people trying super spicy wing challenges with the team cheering them on.”
James Mitchell says his favorite tradition within the swim team involves his brother. “One tradition that we have is that every year one of the captains gets a conch shell that they sign their name on and blow during cheers. The following year that shell is passed down to one of the next year’s captains. This year my brother has the shell so that’s fun,” James Mitchell said.
It’s clear to anyone that has the chance to see either team at one of their meets that everyone is very close. According to James Mitchell, “We are all bonded by the team which enabled us to become good friends. The swim meets get really hyped when we are all cheering for each other and getting loud which is really fun.”
