The swim team completed their first season as an official UIL team Feb. 6 and 7 with eight students competing at regionals under the guidance of head coach Angela Stephens and coach Greg Ragland.

The team is not an official school team, but is classified as a club which uses UIL privileges to compete and is fully funded by parents. Stephens said because this is a survey year, the team could get its own athletic period in the next few years.

“The reason it may not happen next year is because of the district having to focus on a new superintendent,” Stephens said. “It does help that Greg and I are current employees of the district, so the effort has moved faster.”

Sophomore Evan Walton competed in the 500 yard freestyle, 200 yard freestyle, 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay at regionals.

“It was pretty exciting that you are getting to set history and set the standards,” Walton said. “It’s been up and down, but it’s gotten smoother. As it goes on, it will get better. The coaches were doing their best to see what worked.  It’s a really fun team to be on.”

Junior Treet Allison joined the swim team in February and traveled to regionals in the boys 200 yard individual medley relay and the boys 200 yard free relays.

“Swimming is one of those sports that gets you in shape from head to toe,” Allison said. “With swimming being such a young sport in Canyon, we are basically trying to be our best because there are not any records or goals that have been set for us to reach. Swimming is a different sport entirely. You don’t know how challenging or great it is until you try it.”

Junior Claudia Pisu, a foreign exchange student from Italy, has been swimming since she was three. Pisu moved to finals at regionals in the 200 yard individual medley, placing third, and the 100 yard breaststroke, placing forth. Pisu enjoys the unity of the team, unlike home.

“In Italy, it’s a team but we don’t really care about the others,” Pisu said. “Every day before a meet we had dinner all together and that was really cool. Everyone is just so nice, friendly and helpful. Every sport here is like that. Being a real team is everything.”