I have always loved swimming. The feeling when you first get in the pool and touch the waves makes my heart race. It feels like I’ve been swimming my entire life, starting with lessons when I was 4 and then moving on to synchronized swimming.

I started synchronized swimming in third grade with my club team, Minnesota Aquafins. I was scared to flip underwater for a second, let alone for 10 or even 20 seconds.

My sister, who had participated in synchro for two years, promised me I’d be OK. So with shaky legs, I jumped into the pool on my first day of practice.

Little did I know, it would become my favorite sport.

My experience on Aquafins has been nothing short of amazing.

The coaches are friendly and helpful, but my favorite part has to be my teammates.

While a high school team is comprised of people sitting in your classes, club sports give you an invaluable opportunity to meet people outside of Park.

Through my club team, I have met so many incredible people from schools like Bloomington, Edina and Prior Lake that I never would have met otherwise.

I have had the chance to grow and compete with these swimmers for many years, and it is an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.

When I see my friends from other schools during high school meets, we always hug and wish each other good luck. The warmth during the cold environment of swim meets really helps me through.

Club synchro eliminates so much of the ugly side of competition during high school because our competitors aren’t just our friends, they are our teammates.

Synchro has taught me so much about being a good person first and then a good competitor — a lesson I will always carry with me.