Everyone knows of the Enloe swim team. Yet, they may not know what it’s like to be immersed in the swimming experience. What are the practices like? What are the meets like? What does it feel like to be a part of the team?

Being a winter sport, the swim team season starts in November and runs through February. The swim team practices five days a week, swimming from 3 to 4 o’clock at Pullen Aquatic Center. Provided it’s not too cold, the team will then end practice with thirty minutes of dryland conditioning. Dryland practice may consist of team runs around the NC State campus or team workout circles. Members of the swim team will carpool with one another to get from Enloe to Pullen Aquatic Center for practice each day.

During the regular season, there are five swim meets. Most swim meets are on Tuesdays at 8 PM and are located at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. Each meet lasts about two hours. During a meet, the women swim each event, or heat, first. The men swim each heat second. Each meet is a mix of individual heats and relays. 

After the regular season, there are three main swim meets: Conference, Regionals, and States. Every member of the swim team has the chance to compete at the Conference swim meet. However, each swimmer has to qualify to compete at Regionals and States. This means that only certain swimmers will represent Enloe at these competitions. 

Heading the swim team is Coach Buzek, the coach of fifteen years. She was also a swimmer at Enloe. She assigns each swimmer their events for each meet, considering who they will compete against.

The swim team is one of Enloe’s more well-known sports teams. As displayed by the flags in the West Gym, they won the conference meet multiple years in a row. 

Not only is the Enloe swim team known for their outstanding scores, but they also exemplify a true sense of community. Leighton Livengood is a sophomore swimming on the Enloe swim team for her second year. When asked what her favorite part of the team is, Livengood explains that the community stands out. “I wasn’t expecting it to be as welcoming as it was,” comments Livengood. “I was completely caught off guard with the welcoming environment.”

After each practice, the entire team participates in a cheer. “They always make the Freshmen go in the middle,” explains Livengood. “It pushed all the Freshmen out of their comfort zone, and made them more comfortable being around the team.” This is just one example of the strong support among the team. “As a Freshman, I came into this community not expecting at all what I received,” says Livengood.

While the team is very supportive, the work that comes with each practice can be challenging. The standards for the Enloe swim team are high, ultimately making them stand out from other schools. “Our coach has a higher standard for us than other coaches on other teams do. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all,” remarks Livengood. “It just pushes us to be better and it makes our team really special.”

There are a variety of levels on the Enloe swim team, but there is a place for everyone, no matter their strength or speed. Livengood shares her own experience, explaining that even though she may not be the fastest swimmer, she still feels welcome. “I don’t feel judged because I’m less of a swimmer than other people,” explains Livengood. “I know that we’re all just a community.”

The Enloe swim team’s next meet is on Saturday, January 11th. Come to Triangle Aquatic Center to support the team and see its vibrant atmosphere in action.