Over the past few years, the Wayland boys’ varsity swim and dive team has had much success. With back-to-back Division II State Championship wins and undefeated seasons, some may wonder why the team has been so dominant in recent years.

Wayland athletes have been extremely devoted to their craft – whether it’s adjusting their diet to prepare for an important meet, or giving up their December break in order to stay in shape for the season.

“The reason that we have had so much success is a combination of talented swimmers and the hard work that we put in,” senior captain Asa Greenaway said. “Also, the coaches know how to push us and they put in a ton of time researching the teams we swim against.”

Coaches have a huge impact on not only the maturation of the team, but also its performance. They help the team prepare for their opponents, both mentally and physically. Wayland swim and dive coaches are well known for leading an exceptional athletic program, one that works its swimmers to the maximum.

“[The coaches] help prepare the team by working us as hard as possible, and even though it’s sometimes hard to see the end goal, it’s definitely an effective way to [prepare],” senior captain Sean Devlin said. “We’ve been killing it these last few years and we’ve been going harder than we ever have before. It shows how dedicated the coaches are.”

Although exceptional coaches are crucial, the team atmosphere has been just as important. Devlin noted that the team’s outlook on swimming has transformed into a more positive one over the past two years. Rather than loathing the hard work they have to put in, the group tries to keep a fun team culture in order to get through hard practices and big meets.

“[The team] is definitely much different than it used to be,” Devlin said. “I think there’s a better culture now. The team has started liking swimming more in the past few years because we’ve had a fun team and a fun team atmosphere. We keep a positive attitude. It helps everyone get through hard practices and prepare for big meets.”

Another factor that has helped the team achieve success has been the leadership that it receives from its senior swimmers.

“My job as a captain is to make sure that everyone is committed to the team and also, at meets, to make sure people are cheering,” Greenaway said. “I also talk to kids who are worried about [their performance] or not happy with how they swam.”

“My role is mainly to be a leader and role model for the younger people on the team,” senior captain Spencer Wong said. “We answer a lot of questions that the newer swimmers have.”

One key contribution to the team’s success is the manner in which they train toward the end of the season.

“The focus and intensity of practice change [toward the end of the season],” Devlin said. “We taper, which means we go as hard as we can throughout the year, and then in the last two weeks, we tone down practices. There are slower intervals and more speed work, especially for sprinters. We’re trying to get ourselves to the fastest times possible. You can feel the difference once you get in the water.”