Over the past four years, Mike Haggerty has literally been on the big stage.

Now, as a senior, Haggerty has endured his own personal development through the years both inside the Whitehall swimming program as well as on the school stage. He is one of two co-captains on the boys’ unit as well as one of four overall in the program, and he has also played a lead character or two in several school productions.

It has been a four-year evolvement that has meshed together in a productive manner.

“This is my senior year and I know it can be the best of my four years,” said Haggerty. “Actually, it has been better than I thought it would be. I have already had some personal bests and have qualified for districts.”

Haggerty swims the 200 and 500 freestyle for the Zephyrs. He has qualified for districts in the 200 and believes he can attain the same goal in the 500. He qualified for both events last year and qualified for the 500 in his sophomore year.

For Haggerty, it simply has been a matter of repetition in the pool.

“Our coaches are always working us to get better,” said Haggerty. “I felt that this year everything really came together for me. I can see the progress I have made.”

His coach also has seen his development.

“Mike has worked really hard,” said head coach Pete Rile. “He started to greatly improve last season and we figured he would have a nice senior season. He also has adapted well to a leadership role this season.”

Like some of the other changes, Haggerty has adjusted his demeanor without any major obstacles.

“Being a captain and leader is just what I thought it would be,” he said. “It really wasn’t that much of a change for me. It is a little bit different. On the boys’ side, we only have eight of us, but we are a close group. That’s actually true for the whole team. We have good chemistry and this team is different because we lost a number of seniors who had been a big part of the program since they were freshman.”

In his freshman year, Haggerty only has been a year into his swimming career, as he began it swimming in a summer league before he entered eighth grade.

“I liked it and I wanted to do it (swimming) in high school,” he stated. “It was different at first and I knew it would be a lot of hard work. I didn’t expect it to be as demanding as it is. But I knew I would enjoy it.”

Haggerty also has enjoyed his career in theater and choir. He began both of them in fifth grade and they both still hold major roles in his life.

“In the fifth grade, I got involved with the production of “A Christmas Carol,” said Haggerty. “I just decided to go for it after that, and acting and singing also have been a part of what I do. “

Haggerty plans to pursue both of his interests when he attends York College to pursue a degree in elementary and special education in the fall.

“The (swimming) coach there (York College) and I have been talking,” said Haggerty. “I would like to continue swimming. It has been a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to it. I am also anxious to see how the end of the year will turn out for us.”