The PHS boys and girls swim team has dominated the competition this season, winning the Mercer County Championships for the second year in a row, followed by the girls winning sectionals. With a record that leaves the competition treading water, the PHS girls swim team is looking strong as they head further into the season, while the boys had an outstanding season themselves heading into sectional finals.

The team was on a remarkable winning streak, with a perfect 12-0 record leading up to the Mercer County Championships. This impeccable record set a high bar for the team and fueled their determination to succeed heading into sectional finals.

“It was really good last year, and we hope to win next year,” said Zachary Guan ’24. “We think [it] is definitely a possibility.”

The Little Tigers’ success can partially be credited to their talented roster. Ranging from the new swimmers to the swim team veterans, everyone has played their part in fighting for both their impressive record and county championship win.

“We have a really strong lineup this year, especially from freshmen to seniors across the board,” said girls swim team Co-Captain Beatrice Cai ’23. “With a lot of strong swimmers … we can definitely get far.”

While the team’s success is a collective effort, certain athletes put on an impressive performance at the MCTs. Kyleigh Tangen ’24 put on an impressive individual performance, winning both the 50 and 100-meter freestyle events and helping the girls team to their victory.

“She’s very strong in sprint freestyle,” said Cai. “You can always count on her for performing well in those events.”

While Cai and Tangen helped lead the girls swim team towards their impressive county victory for a second time running, Daniel Baytin ’23, tournament MVP and the boys team Co-Captain, led the charge for the boys swim team towards their second counties victory in two years. Baytin also broke the county record while while competing at the prelim semi-finals.

“[Breaking the county record is] definitely new,” said Baytin. “It’s been great.”

Baytin’s monumental achievement played an immense factor towards the team’s comfortable victory at the finals, but despite his integral contribution, Baytin accredits their success to the overall team dynamic, hard work, and support that his teammates demonstrated.

“Everybody on the team is very chill … it’s a lot of fun to just be swimming on it,” said Baytin. “We all support each other … It’s great seeing everybody push themselves. You gotta cheer on your teammates. It’s essential. I think a lot of people take that for granted.”

The success of both the boys and girls swim teams is not without its downsides, though, as it placed a lot of pressure on both teams heading further into the season. Their undefeated streak heading into their successful run at counties placed an immense expectation on their heads, and the swimmers recognize it.

“We were county champions last year with boys and girls, we kind of had an expectation to hold up,” said Cai. “Obviously we did, so that was a really great surprise and we’re obviously really proud of the team as well.”

While the team’s success may appear to come easy to the swimmers, a lot of hard work was put in behind the scenes, which gave this undefeated team their edge against the competition. The team practices Monday through Friday after school for two and a half hours, as well as on Saturday mornings. Many of the swimmers also practice at their individual clubs, adding on to the rigor and hard work that the athletes put in. The fruits of their labor are evident in the team’s undefeated record heading into their recent win at the Mercer County Championships, as well as the girls’ team going on to win sectionals.

“If you want to have those desired outcomes, you have to be willing to put the time and effort into it,” said Head Swimming Coach Carly Misiewicz. “I think we’ve always just kind of established a pretty strong culture from the very beginning of you know, this is what we’re about.”

Misiewicz’s passion and experience for the sport, as well as her commitment to the team, is evident in her coaching philosophy which prioritizes hard work and dedication. Her role in the team dynamic was essential in establishing good habits early on, as well keeping the team members grounded.

“What I always tell them [is that] states is a completely different beast,” said Miziewicz. “It’s to the point where if you win you move on, if you lose a meet, you’re out and it’s over … I like to kind of tread this fine line of having confidence.”

While Misiewicz plays an important role as the head coach in keeping the team’s expectations in check, she also pulls the team closer together, establishing a strong team community.

“Keeping the importance of team spirit...is something our coach emphasized,” said Cai. “[We] win as a team [and] lose as a team.”

What sets the PHS swim teams apart from other sports teams at the school is their unbeatable record, dominance, and most importantly, their sense of team bonding and support.

“We did bonding earlier in the season,” said Cai. “Those kinds of events, as well as the support, made us a very cohesive team.”

The teams’ commitment to hard work and dedication, combined with their winning attitude and support for one another, make them a force to be reckoned with in the pool.

“[We] have high hopes, high expectations,” said Misiewicz. “For both teams to win [the] Mercer County tournament again, was huge ... we’re definitely confident after seeing what [we are] capable of.”