The swim team secured their 6th Athletic Association of Catholic Academies (AACA) Championship win in a row, placed second at Districts, and are headed to States. However, it’s not just their stellar athletic performance that makes them a popular team at the Mount. The sisterhood and culture brings the girls back to the team every year, led by an influential group of seniors and underclassmen who strive to follow in their footsteps.
Senior captain Aurora Martin ‘24 has been a part of the team for the past 3 seasons, and she wouldn’t trade it for the world. As a member of another sports team at the Mount, track, Aurora says that the team energy of swim is unmatched.
“Everyone on the team is just super connected, and we all get along really well.” said Martin. “There are hardly any fights, and I know that each day I go to practice I’m going to be surrounded by a great group of people.”
This culture has been created and enforced deeply by the seniors: Maya McCottry ’24, Anna Fedders ’24, Quinn Shields ’24, and Aurora Martin ’24. Although they don’t all run in the same friend group outside of swim, they know that the bond they have created will last a lifetime. The seniors are encouraging, positive, hardworking, and bring an infectious energy to every event and activity.
“Coming in as a freshman, I was really nervous, but all the upperclassmen were super welcoming and supportive and also encouraged you, whether it was at practice or meets.” said Nora Benamar ‘27.
Days are long during the swim season, with practice running from 5-7 pm most weekdays at Arcadia University, and occasionally a “dry land” practice here at the Mount. The swimmers spend a lot of time together, but they wouldn’t want it any other way.
“We push each other to go faster and become stronger swimmers,” said Katie Scanlon ‘25.
While the season may be ending, the friendships most certainly will not. Mount Swim does more than foster champion swimmers, it also builds qualities that will carry the swimmers past graduation.
