The Lakeland Hawks swim team has kept a stable lead against the competition throughout the 2023 season. It was difficult for competing swimmers to keep pace with the Hawks’ firepower. Each member has pulled their weight, allowing Lakeland High School to show others they mean business.
LHS, as one of the top swimming programs in North Idaho, has maintained that reputation. The boys’ team has even broken multiple school records. Michael Mamola has been the fastest on the team for the 100m and 200m freestyle.
“Without a doubt, I believe that we can make it to districts and win,” senior Ethan Abbott said.
“They’re going for it this year,” Piper Schneider said.
So far, the Hawks have gone undefeated for the duration of the season. Many of the players believe that they will go on to state with a high chance of winning.
Abbott is one of the captains of the swim team and is a great leader. Abbott swam a 2:13 for his 200m and a 0:58 for his 100m. Abbott’s ability to swim faster than most makes him a special component of the Hawks team.
Senior Logan Harris shares the captain title with Ethan Abbott, bringing a team aspect to a solo sport. Both swimmers are confident but humble. They enjoy pushing each other and improving together. For Harris’ 100m freestyle time, he got 0:58, and for his 200m, he hit 2:00 on the dot. He has been competitively swimming since he was about six or seven years old. His abilities show that he has dedicated his life to something and has achieved the goals he had set prior in his life.
Both Abbott and Harris show that with time and dedication, anyone can achieve their highest potential. They both have reached the level of greatness they always strived for.
The boys’ team has been tearing it up so far, not allowing the competition to keep up. But there are always two sides to a story. The girls’ team has also been outperforming the competition. They are almost undefeated, with some swimmers performing at a high level.
Schneider is one of the top performers on the Hawks girl’s team. She may have only been swimming for two years but has made major progress in her ability to swim. She posted an impressive 1:18 in the 100m.
Amanda Olson had been swimming before she could even comprehend what she was doing. She started swimming at the ripe old age of 9 months. It is crazy to think that anyone would even trust a kid that age in water.
All of those years of experience have transitioned into major progress. She swims a 200m freestyle at a fantastic 1:34. She has also been able to succeed at the 100m freestyle at 1:08.
Both of these young ladies show that no matter what time someone starts, they can succeed immensely.
Though the team is doing very well, they can not give up now. With two meets left, they still have to prepare and focus to finish out the year and compete for a state title.
