Rumor has it that there’s a pool on the roof at Travelers Rest High School and now it doesn’t seem like such a crazy idea.  For the first time in the school’s history, there is now a swim team.  The students’ long-term dreams of becoming Devildog swimmers are finally a reality, a reality that is sure to make Travelers Rest proud.

Emma Davis, an eleventh grade homeschooler, jumped right into the water to embark on this historic moment and is very excited to compete for TR.  For Davis, the TR swim team is “something that [she’s] wanted to be established for years.”  However, this isn’t going to be an easy task for the Devildogs, given the surrounding circumstances that this is their first year.

Coach Green, a P.E. teacher at Northwest Middle, commented, “I’ve never coached a swim team before so I knew it would be a challenge, but I’m always up for challenges.”  However, with a passion and love for swimming that began at a young age, it was a no-brainer for Coach Green to take this position and run with it.  She goes on to give credit to the swimmers and their families for starting up the swim team, mentioning that many of the swimmers are on a year-round club team as well and wanted to bring swimming to TRHS so they “could finally get the recognition they deserve for the sport they love.”

Off to a strong start, the swim team is composed of ten members. So far, they’ve had two swim meets since the start of school and have held their own against schools much bigger and more experienced, such as Woodmont, Riverside, and JL Mann, placing with a lot of top ten finishes.  Hunter

Echols, a junior, placed third in the 200 IM along with Austin Calvera, a senior, placing ninth in the 50 meter freestyle.  To top it off, Davis won the 100 meter butterfly and qualified to swim in the state championship.  The swim team practices Monday through Thursday for around two hours each day at the Northcliffe neighborhood pool. The new Devildog swimmers are dedicated to making their first year a great one.