For Madison Lyle, life is good. In fact, she has already come full circle.

The junior is enjoying her third season as a member of the Whitehall swim team, a program she has been involved with as a swimmer and coach since her youth. She also has been active in several school-related programs that have given her a true sense of satisfaction.

Her lone drawback this season was missing qualifying for a spot in the upcoming district meet by one second in the 500 freestyle, which has been her primary event this season.

Prior to this season, Lyle swam a series of shorter events.

"It is a little rough missing districts," said Lyle. "But this is my first year swimming a distance event. It is a big difference this year. I was used to swimming short distances and I knew I had to build up my endurance.

"Things were a little different and difficult at first, but I felt that I have been getting better at it. It was just a matter of getting used to everything."

Adjusting to a situation in swimming isn't anything new. Lyle has been active in the sport since she was two and also has served as a coach in the Whitehall Waves program, one in which she grew over the years.

"Once I started swimming, I knew it was going to be my sport," said Lyle. "I tried other sports, but I really enjoyed swimming. I was active in the Whitehall Waves and then I started coaching. I have really enjoyed working with the younger kids."

Teaching will also play a priority in her future as Lyle plans to pursue a degree in elementary education in the future.

"My aunt is a teacher, but I have had so many good teachers over the years," said Lyle. "Those experiences really made me think of getting into the field. I really want to help students learn. I've enjoyed my time coaching and knew teaching would be a good profession for me."

Head coach Pete Rile has relished her role and presence on the team.

"Madison Lyle is one of the quietest assets," said Rile. " She places the entire team and Whitehall well before her individual needs. Each and every day she comes in with the greatest positive attitude about everything - swimming and life-and is extremely coachable.

"This year she has excelled in her contributions to the team in that in the past years, she was able to swim any stroke in a meet but was equal to many other teammates. She now has become a necessary competitor in high quality meets to gain team points and barely missed qualifying for districts.

This was a huge step up for her. She also is high quality for us by her ability to swim any event. She has dropped times in every event she has swum this year except one - which we didn't even attempt to train for. It would make my job unbelievably easy if we had an entire team of Madison's."

In addition to her swimming, Lyle is a member of the school's National Science Honor Society, and Serve and Defamation clubs. She is enthusiastic about the team's camaraderie, one factor that keeps her life progressing.

"We are a very close team," said Lyle. "We all get along so well and do things together. But it has been an exciting year and it has been fun to start a new day."

Life, as she knows it, continues to be good.