The Westwood Swim and Dive Team made a splash at their season-opening meet on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the RRISD Aquatic Center. 

Divided into Orange and Black teams, the Warriors dove into a fast-paced meet that kept both swimmers and parents on their toes. Each swimmer participated in two individual events and at least two relays.

The pool deck buzzed with energy as the teams cheered each other on, embodying the school spirit that defines this fan-favorite event. For many swimmers, this meet served as a tool to gauge the season ahead, setting a strong foundation as competitions approach. 

“We did a bit of a rubric where we had a lot of swim 100s, [because] it’s really important to build up our stamina,” Angela Fu ‘25 said. “And later on we’ll do a lot more sprinting and focus [on] speed.”

For the freshmen, this meet served as a celebration of team spirit and individual aspirations for the years ahead. 

“My personal goal [for] this season is to make regionals,” Nishka Gupta ‘28 said. “I hope to maybe even make the state team.”

Coach Matthew McBrearty emphasized that his primary goal for this early season meet was simply to energize the swimmers and foster some friendly competition. Looking ahead, he brings a thoughtful approach to the team’s growth, focusing on more than just speed in the water. 

“In an early meet like this, there’s no rubric, I just want [the swimmers] to have fun and enjoy it,” Coach McBrearty said. “But as we go forward, the metrics become more important, and [it] isn’t always about times. One of the big things we look at is their underwaters, which is [their] distance and time up to the 15 meter [mark] with streamlined dolphin kicks.”

Coach McBrearty’s emphasis on fundamentals and technique rather than just raw speed demonstrates a long-term vision for the team’s success. He also restates the importance of team bonding during the season’s outset, which he hopes will bolster the team throughout the competitive season. 

“After that is [when] we look at time,” Coach McBrearty said. “Sometimes, there’ll be other things like how they start, how they finish, [and] everything in between. For now, I just hope they have fun and get excited about the season. I hope they’re not worried about [their] times and instead just enjoy being here and competing with their friends.”

At the helm of the girls’ swim team were captains Sophia He ‘25 and Violet Hewett ‘25. By blending fun and a competitive edge, both leaders set the tone for a team environment that aims to bring out the best in every swimmer throughout the season.

“I think it’s really important for everyone to know their worth, know they are capable, and that they are more than just numbers,” Hewett said. “When we incorporate team bonding, we have fun with it as a cohesive family and [I] think that’s gonna take us much farther than us working as individuals.”

The fierce captains lead with the ‘iron sharpens iron’ philosophy, creating a culture where swimmers push each other both socially and athletically. This principle inspires athletes to push their limits and achieve faster times in the pool. His leadership extends to setting ambitious team goals, as she expresses the outcomes she hopes for this season. 

“Every year, we just try to be better than we were last year,” He said. “Last year, we had a couple of state qualifiers on the guys’ and the girls’ [team] so we’re [going to] try to get more swimmers to state. [Right now] we’re reaching for our combined district title, as per usual, but we’re also trying to get the girls a district title too.”

The Warriors will compete next in the Round Rock District Opener Swim meet on Friday, Sept. 20, at the RRISD Aquatic Center.