Sophomore Ashley Graham lines up and tightens her swim cap and goggles. She steps up on the starting block and lowers into the perfect diving position that will give her the momentum she needs for success.

Graham waits for the whistle to start the race. She can feel her heart beating faster as she takes a breath. The whistle is blown.

Tryouts were held the week of November 10 and the returning swimmer explained the tryout process. “Tryouts consist of time trials for different events: 100 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 free, 50 free, 200 IM, and the 200 free,” Graham explains.

“I’m more able to this year than I was as a freshman, because now I know what to expect,” said Graham.

She is a returning swimmer for Tabb and swims year round for Coast Guard in Newport News.

“Last year getting 35 points for a letter was a challenge for a lot of people,” Graham explains.

As many returning swimmers contemplate the challenges of last year, they also face the new challenges for this year.

“My challenge this year will be making states,” said Graham. Coach Reisbeck expressed her thoughts on last year and the upcoming year’s prior tryouts.

“The fact that both coaches were new and meet times were late in the middle of the week was a challenge last year,” said Coach Reisbeck. “A challenge for this year is that only one coach can be at practice during the time in the water.”

Many students have high hopes and goals for this year including the coaches. “I think that some of our boys have a good shot at district and states.”

According to the swimmers and the coaches, there is a lot in store for Tabb swimmers this year.