Three years ago the boys swim team won the Bay Colony Championship. But now they struggle to even qualify to compete. For the past five years taking swimmers to the sectional and state meets was the norm– the town of Barnstable is home to a great number of talented boys and girls who train vigorously. Last year, however, due to their low participation numbers the boys didn’t qualify for the Bay Colony meet.

Despite the obstacles faced by an undersized team of 11 swimmers, opposed to the optimal number of at least 17, last year the boys placed fourth in the Conference Championships.

Dan Wareham surmises that the number of high schools now available in the town of Barnstable has most likely diminished the numbers of boy swimmers over the several years. “As a public school, recruiting outside is very limited by the MIAA, and thus creates a disadvantage for schools like BHS,” said Wareham, who has coached for 10 years.

Private schools can recruit swimmers from anywhere and give them incentives to go the their school.

However, the girls team has never had a lack in participation.

Colleen Ellis, four-year varsity girls swimmer said, “We’ve been able to keep our numbers relatively consistent as well as the talent of the girls on the team.” Ellis feels the inadequate number of boys swimmers is due to a combination of the “lack of advertisement for the boys swim team as well as guys having more interest in other winter sports such as basketball, hockey and winter track.” While swim is still a competitive sport the swim team hasn’t had cuts in four years and new members are always welcome. “We are a lot better than people give us credit for,” said Ellis, “I think that some people don’t even know we have a swim team!”

This year the girls team is composed of 23 girls as opposed to the boys team with 10 swimmers. The boys have three new swimmers: junior Liam Sives as well as 8th graders Arthur Delarizzi and Solomon Duhon and seven returners. They expect to have a successful season with a talented group of swimmers.

As some often forget, swimming is not just for leisure over the hot days of summer, it is a competitive and fast paced sport that does not receive the recognition nor praise that it deserves.

“There’s this idea that swimming isn’t really a sport compared to others at our school, which, by the way, is far from accurate,” said junior captain Ethan Williams. Swimming is a full body workout that strengthens muscles, builds endurance, and improves overall cardiovascular fitness.

“Every practice challenges your physical capabilities, and no one comes home from practice without being completely exhausted,” said Williams.

Swimmers may not wear jerseys or throw around a puck or ball, but that does not make swim any less of a sport. Coach Wareham said, “Swimming is the ultimate sport. It’s a sport where you should see progress every time you compete, it’s loud, exciting to watch and cheer your team on.”

Despite the notion of swimming as an individual sport, the team functions as one cohesive unit, the intimacy of such a tight-knit team creates a bond similar to that of a family. “When we’re at a meet, I can guarantee that at least two thirds of the team is cheering someone on during their events and congratulating them when they finish,” said Williams, “Win or lose, we’re all super supportive of each other and it’s a really healthy environment.”