After a huge season last year including eight broken school records—the Urbana boys’ swim team is entering, the new season with confidence, high expectations, and a lot of excitement. With tryouts happening this weekend, both returning swimmers and new athletes are preparing to show what they can bring to the program. There is already strong momentum, and the team seems ready to build on last year’s success. Team captain Ayden Savage explained that the group already feels connected, even before the final roster is formed. His pre-meet routine is simple: lots of protein, a focused playlist, and a last-minute snack for energy. When practices get challenging, he uses small habits like humming a song in his head to stay motivated and get through difficult sets. His favorite event, the 200 Free, challenges him to balance strategy with speed, which keeps it more engaging than other races. Coach Evan shared that the main goal this season is to continue the competitive mentality that helped both the boys’ and girls’ teams achieve major accomplishments last year. The boys went 9–0, the girls finished 8–0, Urbana won counties, placed in the top 15 at the regional meet, and the girls earned second place in the region. One of his strongest memories from last year was the county championship meet, where the energy in the building was incredibly intense and the support for the swimmers was unmistakable. As tryouts approach, Coach Evan focuses on motivating athletes based on their individual needs. Some days he focuses on technique… other days he works on morale, especially as many swimmers balance demanding classes, long practices, and sometimes club schedules. He looks for a variety of strengths rather than one specific type of swimmer, explaining that leadership, endurance, and technical skill all bring value to the team. Team chemistry also plays a major role in Urbana’s success. Some swimmers already know each other from club teams, while others connect as the season progresses. Coach Evan noted that each meet brings different groups together, but overall the athletes consistently support one another. For new swimmers joining after tryouts, the coaches make sure they are welcomed, eased into routines, and given time to adjust. Meet days are full of traditions the team enjoys. Before each competition, swimmers gather in Mr. Grover’s room to eat, relax, and mentally prepare together. Once they arrive at the pool, they complete a quick warm-up before finishing with a team cheer led by Ayden, whose go-to hype song is “Thought I Was Dead” by Tyler, the Creator. As the team looks ahead, Coach Evan describes Urbana swimming as dedicated, fun, and elite, a combination the program hopes will drive another standout season.