From managing a shorter preseason to racing opponents over Zoom, the PHS swim team has definitely had an unusual year. Unlike the other land-based sports, swimmers cannot wear a mask in the water, so naturally, the swim team had to make adjustments to ensure COVID-19 safety guidelines were followed. With the support of coaches and their efforts to provide an opportunity for the athletes to practice and compete, the PHS swim season was able to safely start in February and eventually end with an undefeated season for the first time since 2014 and 2016.

While the season was extremely different from what the athletes were used to, the team’s focus remained unchanged. Emily Bauser ’21, one of the team captains, reflects on the team’s work ethic.

“We went out there, did our best, and tried to work through this weird season we were having,” Bauser said. “We had our normal [two-hour] practices Monday through Saturday, either after school or in the morning.”

By pushing through uncertain times, the team was able to finish the season undefeated for the first time since 2016. In order to reach the level that they could, each swimmer had to adapt to the smaller practice time. While the team was successful in being versatile, Bauser accounts that the swim season might not have happened at all. She accredits the coaches for making it possible.

“There was a lot of talk like is it even safe to have these practices and have these meets. So it was the coaches reaching out and making sure teams wanted to do it,” Bauser said. “Coaches were reaching out and making sure that a season actually happened for us, that was instrumental.” 

In addition to making the season possible, the team attributes the hard work and guidance of Head Coach Misiewicz in defeating West Windsor-Plainsboro North, who had always been close rivals of the PHS swim team and beat PHS on multiple occasions last year. The girls team swept North 121–49, and the boys team won by two points. Through this big victory of the season, the PHS swim team realized they might actually go undefeated for the first time since 2014 and 2016. Alavro Lopez ’21, a captain of the boys team, comments on this victory.

“We [thought] we could actually finish off with a good season and be undefeated,” Lopez said. “The nerves kicking in and the adrenaline [kept us forward] so we swam our best for both of the races and throughout the season.”

With the thought of the season being undefeated, the team kept practicing. Even in such an extreme circumstance, Misiewicz accommodated safe locations for practices and competitions and prepared the team for an undefeated season. Her efforts, along with the PHS swim teams’ hard work, paid off by the end of the season as both the boys and girls team were named “the teams of the year” by the Trenton Times. Misiewicz praises the team’s achievements.

“Being an athlete, the biggest thing is to have [an] opportunity to compete and showcase everything that you've been training for,” Misiewicz said. “I was grateful and thankful that we were able to have a season together.”

While COVID-19 initially had a negative impact on the team dynamic and season, it eventually contributed to the team’s undefeated season. As most club swimming was cancelled, the PHS team became stacked with many strong club athletes. Andy Liu ’21, a captain this year, discusses how the lack of organized sports during quarantine increased the quality of relationships on the PHS swim team this year.

“I think this year, because of the pandemic, a lot of our club swimmers started coming to our practices more, and that has made the whole team connect more and allowed us to work together better. We developed stronger bonds, we’re all cheering each other on, and we got to know each other better, even though we all have our masks on most of the time,” Liu said.

During this especially difficult season, the captains of the PHS swim team worked to make the team united and focused on inclusion. The captains worked on building collaboration between the members of the team and Liu accounts for the help that it offered on race days.

“I definitely think having good leaders and being motivated all the time [helped], because it could feel weird not having someone next to you swimming to try to beat,” Liu said. “But we've really gotten better at racing each other during the meets and cheering each other on no matter if it's the guy swimming and the girls are cheering or the other way around. Just having a good bond.”

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the PHS swim team completed the season with new achievements and broke its records with excellent performances. To continue the legacy, the PHS swim teams are confident with their strong underclassmen. Tracey Liu ’22, who is currently a junior, expresses her spirit and excitement towards next year’s season.

“We’ll continue the legacy by always working our best, supporting each other, having a good attitude in the pool, [and] building and bonding as a team,” Liu said.