By BROOKE BOYER- The 2018-2019 swim and dive season has begun, along with the many hours of practice. This year, the IHS swim and dive teams are headed into the season with great aspirations for themselves and their fellow teammates. While these teams are rather small, they have great potential for success in this year’s season.

Garet Weston is the head coach of the swim team. The assistant coaches include Kim Hartle and Don Gibbon. The diving coach is Mrs. Valerie Haney. The captains of the girls’ team for this season include seniors Grace Margita and Payton Rayko, as well as junior Parker Fanella. The captains of the boys’ team include senior Joey Bujdos and junior Cole Thome. The diving team captain is senior Creed Wingerter.

“As we move through our 2018-19 season, we continue to push for our personal and team goals. We are off to a great start to the season with many great personal best in-season times and I am excited to see how it finishes as we move into our section meets and into the championship season,” Coach Weston said.

“It’s an honor being a captain of such a successful team here at IHS. We all work very hard and it’s great to see the results paying off from meet to meet. Hopefully the boys’ and girls’ teams will both finish with an undefeated season in the section and place in the top three at WPIALs, as the girls have finished second for the past two years in a row,” Bujdos stated.

Although the teams are strong and have a lot of potential, that doesn’t mean there is room for slacking. Junior swimmer Kevin Zheng said, “I think we have a pretty strong team, but there are still many improvements to be made. We need to work hard and give it our all.”

This year, the swim and dive teams have multiple seniors. For some of them, this will be their last year in the pool. Senior swimmer and team captain Grace Margita expressed, “It’s been a super-fun four years! I’m sad to be graduating, but I will never forget all the memories, laughs, and lessons swimming has taught me.”

This season is certain to be one of many wins for the IHS swimmers and divers. As these athletes work hard and strive to achieve both personal and team goals, be sure to support them throughout their season!

[Photo by Hannah Reilly]

Photo caption: “Senior Josh Mbogo tears through the water at a recent meet.”