The Washington, D.C. metro area has been labeled as one of the top swimming areas in the state, country and even the world. Montgomery County alone has much to boast about when it comes to swimming, with two of the top swim teams in the country, Nations Capital Swim Club (NCAP) and Rockville Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC), and Katie Ledecky, holder of five separate world records and winner of various awards such as the top U.S. female swimmer of the year. WJ’s Swim and Dive team is no exception to that reputation with a boys team returning after capturing the state title last year, and a very strong girls team led by two junior captains.

Coming into his fourth year on WJ Swim and Dive, senior captain Joe Sukinik thinks that the swim team has the key parts to a team that has the ability to win states.

“We have some very good young swimmers and some very good depth,” Sukinik said.

Katie Ellett, junior captain of the girls swim team, is also very excited and optimistic about this year’s prospects for the swim team.

“I’m really excited that I have the opportunity to lead the team this year, and I’m looking forward to a great season,” Ellett said.

Sukinik also looks forward to the team this year and what they have the ability to accomplish.

“We’re a very fast team this year, and if we can make it to the postseason, I think that all of our fast swimmers can help us go far into the postseason,” Sukinik said.

As for the negatives of the team this year, Ellett, as usual, keeps her positive outlook as captain.

“It’s really hard for me to think of any weaknesses for the team this year, we’re really strong in so many areas,” Ellett said.

While Ellett doesn’t think that there are many weaknesses to the team, the biggest threat to the team are the competing schools in their division.

“Our entire division has always been really competitive…for the girls team our biggest threat is probably Churchill, and for the guys team, it’s probably [Richard Montgomery],” Ellett said.

Although Sukinik believes that the girls team has a tremendous chance to go very far this year, he thinks that the hardest thing for the swim team, particularly the boys team, to get over is the loss of 20 varsity swimmers last year.

“The seniors that we lost last year were a huge part of the team, they were a huge part of the team and essentially were what held the team together… the swim team is a very large team, but still losing 20 very good swimmers is a big loss to the team,” Sukinik said.

 Though Ellett agrees that the obstacles are much harder to overcome this year than last year, with other schools’ swim teams getting stronger, Ellett still thinks that the team has a very good chance to go far this year.

“Our team has always had great spirit, and this season is just like any other year, the team is starting off very well with great spirit,” Ellett said.

Sukinik reflects Ellett’s views on the team’s spirit,

“The team is like a big family, everyone is always there cheering for and supporting each other, and with everyone cheering for you and supporting you, you really swim faster,” Sukinik said.

Despite the long rigorous season that Swim and Dive will endure this year, the team has a balanced mixture of young and experienced swimmers that could potentially bring WJ Swim and Dive back towards the top of the podium this February.