DICKINSON — For the reason that starting of October, Dickinson women swim and dive crew have made nice strides as they strategy the top of the common season, profitable three of their 5 duals. They’ve been training with nice anticipation to complete the season with the internet hosting of an invitational. Every athlete is set to surpass their private greatest occasions and endure the problem of practices and coaching in an effort to take action.

Preserving them targeted and motivated are their three senior co-captains, Aryana Davis, Mara Ellerkamp and Aryana Twist.

ARYANA DAVIS — THE DESERT DOLPHIN

Davis lived a big a part of her life in Arizona, similar to her not being a fan of the chilly, however what she does assist is her teammates. She first joined the membership within the fall of 2020, eager to decide right into a sport with out contact, that also orbited round teamwork. That’s precisely what she present in this system that has grow to be a second household for her.

“I actually just like the household neighborhood and that side of it,” Davis stated. “It isn’t a sport that’s one for themselves. You construct mates and also you grow to be a household by the top of the season and I simply love that about swimming.”

She has certified for each WDA swim occasion, aside from the 100 fly. She continues to try for extra, however much less for herself and extra for her youthful teammates to proceed their very own push for qualifying occasions. Due to their continuous effort, she rewards it by by no means displaying a give up in herself.

“Being one of many seniors and one of many captains, we now have to not focus a lot on ourselves, however we attempt to higher our youngers and to be good position fashions … We attempt to have a optimistic angle and uplift our crew,” Davis stated. “I feel swim is a kind of sports activities that’s each mentally and bodily exhausting, however you might have such a fantastic neighborhood to push you thru these boundaries and it’s such a fantastic sport to be in.”

Having a love for biology, the Hope Christian Academy senior plans to attend Black Hills State for her undergraduate, earlier than attending medical faculty at UND. She stated that she is going to keep in mind all of the bonds she has constructed together with her teammates and has been extremely pleased with all of the youthful athletes who’ve made nice enhancements at their younger age, which she believes will preserve this system aggressive.

MARA ELLERKAMP — THE TITAN TRAILBLAZER

Ellerkamp is a senior at Dickinson Trinity and has been a fantastic chief for the crew and was one in all their first swimmers to qualify for all state swimming occasions. She has been with this system since her seventh grade yr, however has been working in the direction of this ultimate highschool senior for the previous 13 years. She is a part of the Ellerkamp legacy, being one in all 5 swimmers in her household and was impressed watching her older brother swimming at a really younger age.

With over a decade of expertise within the sport, she has offered her teammates with stellar perception, however in return has been inspired by them.

“A giant motivator for me is that it’s senior yr and I simply need to do the very best that I can and depart an excellent legacy behind as I am going on to my faculty years,” Ellerkamp stated. “It feels nice [state qualifying] and I couldn’t have completed it with out my teammates serving to me alongside the best way and pushing me to be a greater swimmer … They’re the large motivators when I’m going via a tough observe.”

Ellerkamp has gained great expertise and power contained in the pool, however takes it a step additional, making use of her self-discipline into the classroom. She credit this system for instilling exhausting work, perseverance and good organizational qualities.

Having gone via peak week the week earlier than, which is probably the most difficult week of observe within the season, she has acknowledged the crew’s need to excel in every of the 5 days of practices. Due to their shut reference to one other on the crew, Ellerkamp believes they’ve the psychological power to show just a few heads at state and has set aim for herself to interrupt a college recornd in any of the occasions she competes in.

“Being with this group of ladies might be probably the most enjoyable I’ve had of all my seasons,” Ellerkamp stated. “I feel we now have an excellent crew camaraderie this yr and we’re getting higher each single meet and that’s simply making us extra hype and able to observe. We would not be the most important or quickest crew within the state, however we’re having numerous enjoyable and we’re getting higher whereas we do it.”

ARYANA TWIST — THE JEWEL IN THE POOL

Twist loves creating jewellery and spending time together with her household, however priorities swim simply as excessive. She first started her profession eight years in the past and has been with this system for the previous six. Her understanding within the deep finish has earned her qualifying occasions for each state swimming occasion, the place she plans to compete within the 50 freestyle and 100 fly to greatest assist Dickinson’s crew rating.

She believes closely in her crew, which has been an extension of her family and has had a fantastic honor as a co-captain.

“All the time lead with empathy. We do not have to be yelling at one another. I at all times attempt to verify everyone seems to be included, ensure that it’s a good atmosphere and I hope they preserve it that manner,” Twist stated. “[qualifying for state] I feel it positively exhibits exhausting work pays off. None of what I’ve achieved is luck. I assume I’ve struggled with individuals saying ‘Oh you might be so fortunate you might have that!’ However none of that’s luck.”

Being a part of this group of ladies is the one luck Twist acknowledges in her athletics. Her exhausting work has been a mirrored image of the crew’s camaraderie, but in addition to the time and dedication they’ve obtained from their pair of coaches, Jenna Wolf and Samie Bohl. All three seniors spoke extremely of the perception and perspective their coaches present them after their occasions and serving to them construct off of it.

“It has been emotional. They’re all I’ve ever identified. I’m prepared to depart, however on the identical time I do know I’m going to overlook them as a result of I like them,” Twist stated. “ I owe every little thing to [my coaches and teammates]. I like them. I feel they’re a really distinctive crew. After I go to meets, I really feel like I see it on deck, that we now have probably the most spirit, probably the most optimistic angle and we’re only a nice crew.”

The seniors will probably be making their exit after the postseason and although they could not know what’s to come back, it’s sure that this system will probably be in good palms. Taylor Miller, a junior from Trinity, who has been enormously impressed by her seniors and can function a successor of their exhausting work angle, having certified for every of the swim occasions for state herself.

“I’ve been swimming with them since I used to be in seventh grade. We’ve got been mates since earlier than then. They actually inspire me throughout observe and push me,” Miller stated. “I’m simply actually pleased with all the women. We’ve got had some new qualifiers, which has made me actually excited for them,” Miller stated. “They only work so exhausting so they only deserve it.”

Josiah C. Cuellar was born in San Angelo, Texas, a small rural neighborhood within the western a part of the state identified for its farming, ranching and exquisite Concho River. A Texas A&M San Antonio graduate specializing in multi-media reporting, Cuellar is an award profitable photographer and reporter whose work focuses on neighborhood information and sports activities.