AHS swim team Co-Captains Bryony Shipe and Dylayn Shipe have high hopes for the future of the team in the coming years despite the team’s small size. 

As of mid-January, juniors Bryony and Dylayn and freshmen Emily Eroh, Amelia Bissell, and Aynsley Shipe have all qualified for WPIALs.

The composition of this year’s swim team is unique because the team includes only one member of the boys team, freshman Asher Kimmel. Senior Ethan Weigel, a previous member of the team, now swims for a club — Racer X Aquatics — based in the Deer Lakes area.

The 2023-2024 swimming season began in December and runs until February. Currently, the record is 3-3-1. 

As captains, Dylayn and Bryony help their teammates through warmups before meets. They decide what to wear for swim meets and help the team by encouraging and leading them towards success.

According to the captains, the team chemistry between the girls is a lot closer this year compared to previous years since they have a smaller group. 

The only senior on the team is Emma Klingensmith, a former AHS student and current West Shamokin Jr. Sr. High School student. 

The team bonds by having team dinners after meets and passing their “swim baby” around — a doll with a swim cap — and taking pictures of it with opponents, a tradition which was started by former AHS student and swimmer Ava Barton. 

Both Bryony and Dylayn have swam since they were five years old. They started because their parents wanted them to be able to swim in case they were ever put in a dangerous situation, but they continued swimming because they enjoyed it so much.

Their favorite part about swimming is the bond they share with other teams because they’ve been competing against the same people since they were little. They also enjoy the sportsmanship aspect of swimming, as well as competing in YMCA meets, dual meets,  invitationals, and relays with four people.

Dylayn and Bryony, juniors, plan to continue competitive swimming at the collegiate level upon graduating from AHS, but they have not committed to a college yet. 

Bryony and Dylayn Shipe encouraged underclassmen to join the swim team because of how fun it is. They anticipate several underclassmen who have expressed interest in joining the team to commit next year.