Here at Sunlake, both the boys and girls swim on the same team, but compete against different opponents. Meets take place simultaneously, but it can be a unique experience for a girl and a boy, or even just two girls of different strengths. Girls swim against girls, and boys against boys, but coaches will choose the events that athletes do based on their strengths.  For example, sophomore Jena Ruste took on the Wiregrass Ranch High School Girls and reigned victorious against them. Ruste can be seen warming up for the meet, doing breaststroke, one of her favorite strokes. However, the strokes that come on top as her favorites and best are freestyle and backstroke. She both feels and looks the strongest while swimming these strokes, so she is put in these events ahead of breaststroke or others. This meet was her first for this year and she “…felt really good, but [that] there is always room for improvement at those to come.” Although the Seahawks beat the Bulls at this meet, she still felt there was room to improve. This proves she is a dedicated athlete and is willing to persevere to become the best swimmer she can be. Along with many of the Seahawks swimming alongside her, she is on a club team too. It can be quite difficult to manage her responsibilities with school as well as keeping up with two swim teams and friends. However, she does her best to “…try to do work ahead of time, or whenever [she] can.” Ruste does not see herself pursuing swim in her future past high school, but instead wants to focus on wherever her career takes her. She has spent over a decade swimming and it has been great for her in order to stay active, make friends, and be involved in the school. It has been a very enjoyable experience for her, and she gets to swim to her own personal strengths.