The Freedom Swim Team is prepared for this year’s season. With one of the largest teams in the school’s history, they are ready to start the season. Despite several seniors graduating and leaving the girl’s team to believe their future was meek, incoming recruits and returning swimmers have proved that they can be triumphant this season. After winning Districts in 2014, a third place finish in 2015 left the girls team hungering for another win and another trophy to add to their collection. Their third place finish at Hillsborough County Championships last year in the 4×100 freestyle relay gave them hope for this year.

“We’ve got a lot of potential this season. We’re all very excited,” said Genevieve Clark, Junior.

The boy’s team this year has a lot to live up to. In 2015, they won the Western Conference trophy, beating Strawberry Crest by just 14 points. In addition, they were awarded the highest GPA for swim teams in Hillsborough County, an award that they will be after again this year. A large number of experienced swimmers and lots of new, excited faces make up the boys team.

“Counting strokes into the wall on backstroke is so important,” said Aidan Boggs, a new swimmer this year who had to learn technique the hard way.

The addition of a dive team makes Freedom an even more daunting opponent in the pool. Marigny Duga is the only diver on the team and she has been conditioning for this season all summer with the Berkley Preparatory School dive team.

“The dive team is a new and interesting sport for people to try and it gives students a great opportunity to become fit as well as make new friends,” said Marigny Duga, Junior.

The fantastic combination of all of the new swimmers and returning veterans, this season is looking like it could be one of the best in Freedom’s history. Everyone on the team has high hopes for this year and will make the school proud. The second home swim meet is Thursday, September 1st at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club. Freedom will compete against Sickles High School and the meet starts at 6:00 p.m.