Swimming, a sport of speed, beauty and grace; more than that, for the Blue Springs girls swim and dive team, it’s a way of life. After coming off a conference championship last season, motivation to compete and win is high.

“It’s a really fun group. This group likes to work, they like to train really hard, they all have really great attitudes. Our numbers are pretty similar to last year’s but the attitude in the girls is a little bit better,” Head Coach Thomas Bigham said.

With the season just beginning, the girls are already off to a great start, beating eight teams in Raytown earlier this week–but Coach Bigham has bigger aspirations for his team.

“Last year we got top 10 at state and our goal this year is to do better than that and maybe bring home the trophy,” Bigham said.

Coach Bigham also likes to challenge himself when it comes to coaching his team

“I’m trying to be a better coach and get my swimmers swimming faster then they ever have,” Bigham said.

The chemistry of the team this year has helped coach Bigham become the best coach he could possibly be,

“It’s a really good environment where everyone is trying to do their best,” Bigham said.

Coach and swimmers alike share the same dream. Senior Gracie Lefholz echos her coach’s state aspirations.

“(I hope) to make the state team and have all state relays which I am a part of one,” Gracie Lefholz said.

The girls swim and dive team is off to a great start, with their  200 hundred yard medley team already hitting a state qualifying mark.

“The team I was a part of was trying all week (in which they had three meets) to get that spot and when we finally got it we were all just so happy,” senior Shaedyn Read said.

With swim team getting stronger every week Read has nothing but high praises for her fellow swimmers.

“Our team is very close and so I was excited to swim with them again. We also won conference last year so I was just excited to get training again,” Read said.

With the girls swim and dive team off to a near perfect record to start the season, they are hopeful they can continue make a splash for the rest of the year.