The 2013-2014 Swim Season has just begun. Padua Academy’s Swim Team consists of twenty-three  girls  who are training hard to hopefully win the state championship. The swim team is coached by Stephanie Clair and Alison Ostapkovich.

Padua senior, Victoria Butler, says, “Our coaches are the two of the best swim coaches I have had the pleasure of having. They work hard to make up practices and to help improve us and make us a better team.“

Practicing six days a week at the Boys and Girls Club in Elsmere, the swim team is preparing to face their toughest competitors.

“Our major competitors during the season are St. Marks, Ursuline, and Charter. Even though they are our biggest competitors those are three of the best meets to go to.” explains Victoria Butler.

Although Padua did not win the state championships last year, their current diver, Alexis France, won the DIAA 2013 Diving State Championship last year.

“Swimming is extremely competitive and every teams goal is to bring home the state championship for their school. That is one the goals we strive for during the season and we will work hard to achieve it. Winning the state championships would be great, and we hope to do so this year,” says Victoria Butler.

Not all the athletes on the team train all year, but some girls are also club swimmers that practice everyday throughout the year. Training during the off season helps the girls stay in shape and helps them to endure the tough training to prepare them for their first swim meet on December 10 against Ursuline Academy.

While explaining what people should expect of the 2013-2014 swim season, Victoria Butler said, “We have a really great group of girls who are not only hard working and determined but are very talented swimmers. I believe that our team will be stronger than ever and we plan on working hard this year to better ourselves and of course win some of our toughest meets this year!”