Following an impressive season last winter, the Summit High School swim and dive team has returned to the pool eager to put together another monumental season. 

The Tigers capped last winter by sending seven athletes to the 3A state swim and dive meet at Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton. At the two-day meet, Summit had some of its best performances of the season, ultimately earning enough points for the team to place 18th overall.

The placing marked a seven-place improvement from the 2023 swim and dive meet, displaying the team’s progression under head coach Jenny Wischmeyer.

Despite graduating seven seniors from last year’s roster, Summit returns a group of athletes that are skilled, driven and passionate. 

Out of the seven athletes that competed at the state meet last season, only one was a senior with the six other athletes being sophomores and juniors at the time. Those six athletes are expected to make a major splash for the Tigers this season, not only in their performances in the pool, but also in terms of leadership within the team. 

The three returning seniors include Izzy Rowe, Aila Harmala and Olivia Lyman. All three athletes were major contributors to the team last season and are expected to do the same again this winter. 

Rowe most notably placed 17th overall in the B-final of the 100-yard backstroke at the state meet last season while also contributing to 400-meter freestyle relay team.

Harmala, on the other hand, is now Summit’s premier long-distance swimmer. Last winter, Harmala competed alongside Leidal in the 500-yard freestyle prelims at the state meet. Competing in the longest high school swim race, Harmala barely missed out on making the 20-girl final, placing 22nd overall. 

“This season I am super excited because it is my last season,” Harmala said. “I really want to improve on all of my events. I am looking forward to racing with these new, younger athletes that really show potential. I feel like this season is going to be really fun. My goal is to make finals for the 500. I missed it by just a little bit last season, and that is going to be my motivation to train harder.”

Lyman is one of the most decorated swimmers on Summit’s 2024-25 roster. With two school records to her name, Lyman will attempt to improve upon her times while also trying to qualify for her fourth state meet. 

“My expectations for the season are to make it to the state meet and place higher than I did last year,” Lyman said. “I also want to get the school record in the 100-free as well as break my own in the 50-free. As a team, I hope to get more athletes to state so we can score as a team and bring good relays.”

After breaking her lower leg during the fall rugby season, Lyman will begin the season a little behind where she would typically be, but the decorated multi-sport athlete is confident that she will eventually get back to top form.

“I have certainly had limitations,” Lyman said. “I am struggling to push off the blocks and the wall right now. With the fast races, those things are important, but we will see how that goes at our meet on Friday. I got an infection in my other foot which set the recovery back a little bit, but I am starting to get back to activities and normal life, which is good.”

Rowe, Harmala and Lyman will be aided by junior Teagan Barth, junior Lydia Peterson and junior Izzy Rolfe. All three athletes swam at the state meet last winter and are determined to return to the prestigious event again this February.

In terms of diving, Summit failed to qualify a diver to the 2023 state meet, but it is hoping to change that this season. With 20 rostered athletes interested in diving, Summit has a good chance of seeing a diver — or two — atop the diving board in Thornton at the conclusion of the season.

Summit will begin the season with a meet in Glenwood Springs on Friday, Dec. 6. Summit will host its one and only home meet of the season on Jan. 25. 

“I am really looking forward to getting back in the groove of practice and races,” Harmala said. “Really settling into my race strategy. Last year I was working on my race strategy for the 500 and this year I am working on perfecting it. Getting it down and making sure every race is a good race.”