Written By Allurabella Chandler, Staff Writer
As the 2026 swim season begins, the Riverside Poly High School girls swim team is already diving into the pool with determination and excitement.
Representing Poly, the girls swim team has started the season focusing intensely on improving teamwork skills and preparing for the challenges that they will be facing ahead. With the upcoming months fully scheduled with meets and practices, the swimmers are already thinking about how much they can accomplish by the end of the school year.
The beginning of the season has been filled with after school practices, long workouts, and a lot of time in the water. For many of the swimmers, the first weeks are about getting back into the routine and building endurance after the off-season. Practices often include intense swim sets in meters in various forms of orientation, drills to improve technique, and relay practice to prepare for upcoming meets. While it can be exhausting, the team understands that the work they put in now will make a difference later in the season.
The energy on the pool deck is already strong despite the season only recently starting. Teammates cheer each other on during difficult sets and celebrate small improvements along the way. The meets have always been filled with cheers and love from the crowds and the teammates on the sidelines; that familial support has quickly become one of the biggest strengths of the girls swim team. The swimmers know that competing in races is important, but building trust and encouragement within the team is just as valuable. Our swimming relay teams have always been very successful, and this goes to show the immense trust they have for each other and how coordinated they are as a team.
Another important part of the early season has been the leadership from the upperclassmen. The older swimmers have helped guide the team through practices and have shown the younger athletes what it means to stay focused and committed. Their experience helps keep the team motivated, especially during the tougher training days when practices feel long and tiring. At the same time, many of the underclassmen are already beginning to stand out; new swimmers are working hard to learn the pace of high school competition and improve their skills. As they gain confidence in the pool, they are becoming an important part of the team’s lineup. The combination of experienced swimmers and newer athletes has helped create a balanced team that has the potential to grow stronger throughout the season and to continue developing in the coming years.
While the team is still early in their journey, the Bears are already looking ahead to the bigger meets that will take place later in the season. League competitions and championships are the events every swimmer hopes to perform well in, and the preparation for those significant moments starts now. Each practice and meet gives the team another opportunity to improve their times and strengthen their teamwork. Like many other members, Nat Catano (11) feels that the best parts of being on the swim team are “the sportsmanship and team bonding of it”. With this shared mentality, there is no doubt that the swim team has a great sense of community, and it does not seem like that aspect will change anytime soon.
For now, the focus remains on steady progress. The swimmers understand that success does not happen overnight, and that every lap, every race, and every practice brings them one step closer to their goals. By the time the end of the season arrives, the Bears hope to see the results of all their diligence since day one. As the Riverside Poly girls swim team continues through the 2026 season, the athletes are determined to keep pushing themselves and representing their school with pride. The road ahead is still long, but if the start of the season is any sign, they are ready to make a splash and see just how far they can go by the time the final meet arrives. Go Bears!