On Dec. 5, 2015, the women’s swimming and diving team will begin its final step in accomplishing a feat 3 decades in the making. The feat is to win 30 straight State championships. Last year, the team tied the men’s swim team at Punahou High School in Hawaii when it won its 29th straight title. Now, the Hounds have an opportunity to cement their legacy as one the best programs in the nation’s history.

“It means a lot being a senior, because I’ve been on the team for four seasons, and I’ve seen all the hard work everyone has put in. We’re also representing all those before us,” said Veronica Burchill, team member and senior.

Burchill is no stranger to the winning spirit of the program. She has swam in three State meets and has a specific training regimen.

“When we get closer to our big meets, we start resting a week to a week and a half before them. The beginning of our season holds our easier practices, but really tough training starts towards the middle of the season,” said Burchill. She then went through her personal routine. “I train butterfly, breaststroke, and sprint-free.”

Caroline Schultz, team member and junior, also commented on training throughout the season, “Usually we do less yardage (laps in practice) as we get towards the championship season, so we can rest up.”

To Schultz, a 30th title means a lot more than just another plaque on the wall of the aquatic center. “I think it’s a privilege to be on the State team and represent everything our team has done throughout the season. If we win, it would represent everything that everyone on the past teams has worked towards.”

This generation of swimmers is not alone in feeling the pressure of a State championship. Cathy Surette was on the CHS team that won that first girls’ swimming and diving  title, and she explained her experience.

“It still brings a tear to my eye when I think about it,  especially when you think about how long ago it was and that Carmel has been such a power house ever since,” Surette said via email. She said that the State championship changed not only the swimming and diving program at the school, but also the student perceptions of the program as well. “I don’t think many kids followed the swim team. That changed a bit after we won the State meet,” Surette said. After the team won its State meet, it went over to the State championship football game and was met with a surprise.  “We arrived at halftime and the announcer made an announcement that we had just won the State meet.  We felt pretty great about that and we received a lot of congratulations from students in the stands,” said Surette.

No matter what the year is, the feelings at the State meet are always  special and memorable. “It’s kind of like a family reunion, because I  know so many swimmers throughout Indiana. The atmosphere is pretty similar every year, and everyone is motivated and excited. There is a huge crowd, and it’s filled with excitement,” said Burchill.

The CHS girls’ swimming and diving team has been winning for almost three decades now. This year, the team will face teams like Fishers High School and Chesterton High School, whom they have beaten over the past.“Fishers may be tough, but we don’t really focus on other teams that much,” said Schultz.

Knowing that generations of swimmers have worked towards this record, Burchill explained how no one on the team is taking this year’s upcoming State meet for granted. “Some people who aren’t involved with the sport take it for granted; but, for all the girls on the team, we know it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and we look forward to it every year.”