By: Aly West

The past few years the Bellbrook Swim and Dive Team have been a secondary sport for students during the off season of their main sports. Often the swim team seeks participation with no prior experience required, while participants find it fun for the social and exercise aspect. 

Josiah Wolverton, a senior at Bellbrook High School, plays on the men’s soccer team, competes on the track and field team, and swam on the swim team.

“I swam during my freshman and sophomore year of high school and previously before that I’d never swam before,” Wolverton said. “I really enjoyed competing and making new friends on the team.”

Calle Caldwell, a senior at Bellbrook High School, swam for the team before focusing on her main sport, volleyball. 

“I had been a competitive swimmer since I was 3 years old– I started by doing summer swim at the pool my family went to because all of my siblings were swimmers, too,” Caldwell said. “Then I did club swim in 6th grade, which I quit to do club volleyball, but kept summer swimming until I joined the high school team during my freshman year. Unfortunately it was the last season of swim I ever did.”

“In general, I liked the atmosphere of swimming a lot because it was so fun to compete individually, which I don’t really get to do in volleyball,” Caldwell said. “Especially the aspect of cheering on your teammates while they’re in the water.”

After taking a year off and the new formation of the bowling team, Wolverton joined the bowling team this year. 

“I would say I’m an adventurous guy, and when I heard that there was a brand new bowling team, I knew I had to join,” Wolverton said. “What I love about the team is being able to mess around with my friends and get strikes.”

Overall, Bellbrook’s Swim Team and Bowling Team provide a friendly environment to be active in and play a part in the school community. 

“I think swimming can be a good sport for full body exercise — there’s really no other workout that will work your whole body’s muscles like swimming,” Caldwell said. “Generally, high school swimming can be fun for the social aspect too.”