For most students at Holt High School, swimming is a leisurely activity that you do in the summer with your friends. However for these nine boys, it’s a competitive sport taken to a whole other level: Nick Verlinden (’17), Jason Wylie (,17), Ben Goldstein (’18), Noah Scheuermann (’19),  Austin Mack (’20), Mason Smith (’18),  Tommy Neveau (’19),  Brandon Rowland (’18), Cole Griffin (’19), Ben Cornett (’19), Talon Green (’20), Brian Faintich (’20), Brenden Rydberg (18′), and Brett Coulon (’17).

With four months of preparation and hard meets,   it has all paid off as they head to state this Friday and Saturday at the Recplex pool in St. Peters. ‘‘It’s all about the hard work and the endless hours in the pool,’’ said Talon Green (‘20) an alternate who participates in the 100 fly and 500 freestyle, “Not to mention the chocolate milk”.  Everyday after school, they ride the bus to practice at the YMCA and give 110 percent effort.  

‘‘Racing fast at every meet and being competitive has helped us to get to state,’’ said Tommy Neveau (‘19) who participates in the 100 freestyle, 100 back, 400 freestyle relay, and the 200 medley relay.

Getting this far hasn’t been easy. ‘‘ To be able to get this far we have had to really work hard at practice and work on trying to get better everyday, ’’ said Brandon Rowland (‘18)  who will compete in the 200 freestyle relay.

They have also come against tough competition in their regular season meets. ‘‘I think our toughest competition has been our rivals South and West. It’s always a tough competition,’’ said Nick Verlinden (‘17), one of the co-captains.        

To prepare for this weekend, Verlinden said “We are doing something called a taper, letting our bodies rest and eating right and living right.”

Ben Goldstein ‘18, another one of the co-captains, said it’s all about “Mentally knowing we can do it and just doing it.”

At the beginning of the season,  Verlinden (‘17) decided that who ever made it to state would have to bleach their hair. ‘‘I like bleaching my hair a lot better than shaving my head like last year,’’ said Mason Smith (‘18) who participates in the 200 medley relay.  

You can definitely point them out around school with their bright yellow hair and the excitement they have for this weekend.  Jason Wylie ‘17, another one of the co-captains,  said that “the overall hype and excitement of the team coming together and swimming for the last time” will make this weekend a memory for life.

Best of Luck Boys!