The Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School (BBHHS) swim team is making waves as they prepare for an exciting season ahead. With a larger roster and ambitious goals, the Bees are ready to take on the competition with determination and team spirit.
This year, both the boys’ and girls’ teams have seen a significant increase in size, which has sparked excitement among swimmers and coaches alike. Senior Savannah Koepke remarked, “Our team has gotten much larger on the girls’ side compared to previous years. With the new size of our team, I feel like beating Hudson and Nordonia may be within reach.”
Senior teammate Grace Filmer echoed this optimism, highlighting the depth of the team: “This year’s larger team allows for more relays and versatile lineups, which has been a challenge in past seasons. It’s exciting to see so many new faces, and the underclassmen will be crucial for the future.”
Teammate Ava Petros, another senior, shared her hopes for personal and team success: “My goals for this season are to improve my technique and endurance to achieve personal bests, while helping foster team spirit, contribute to relay success, and support the overall improvement of the team’s performance.”
The swimmers have been hard at work preparing for the season. Koepke, who trained with North Coast Aquatics Team (NCAT) and focused on weightlifting during the preseason, is honing her skills in hopes of earning a spot on the First Team All-Conference and qualifying for states. “I’m hoping to refine my technique and cut time in my events,” she said.
Petros has been preparing through a comprehensive routine. “I’ve been focusing on strength training, maintaining consistent swimming practice, and fine-tuning my technique through drills, while also working on flexibility and recovery to prevent injuries,” she explained.
Filmer, who trains year-round with the Blazing Barracudas, has been focusing on distance freestyle events, including her goal of qualifying for districts in the 500 freestyle. “Training with my club team has allowed me to come into the season prepared and ready to go,” she shared.
While swimming may be an individual sport in the pool, the BBHHS team operates as a family. The seniors emphasized the importance of team bonding and support. “There’s a sense of camaraderie as we push each other to improve, whether through friendly competition or working together during challenging sets,” said Petros. “We support each other by sharing tips, motivating teammates through tough workouts, and celebrating each other’s progress.”
Koepke described the team’s dynamic at the start of the season: “Returning swimmers are happy to be back, always laughing, while the new swimmers are a bit quieter. After the first week, everyone breaks out of their shells, and we put in the work together and celebrate together.”
Filmer added, “Team activities and events are key to building strong relationships. As our coach always says, ‘The sport of swimming is a family.’ Supporting each other during meets and challenging practices makes a huge difference.”
With Thanksgiving break approaching, the team is looking forward to transitioning from early-season practices to competition mode. “I’m most looking forward to getting ready for competitions to start,” Koepke said.
The team is gearing up for its first inter-squad meet on November 27, which will set the stage for a season of exciting competition. Filmer emphasized the team’s overarching goals: “This year, we’re aiming to get all six relays to districts and as many individuals as possible.”
As the Bees prepare to hit the pool, they are united in their dedication and drive. Whether it’s cutting time, supporting teammates, or chasing district and state qualifications, the BBHHS swim team is ready to make a splash this season.
