The Northampton varsity swim team will graduate seven seniors this year, Michael Bauer, Morgan Fehnel, Alexis Frey, Gavyn Frankenfield, Jared Iasiello, Joshua Millan and Hanna Novobilski.

On a rainy morning in February, I sat down with some of the graduating senior swimmers after another early morning practice, to look back at the past four years and talk about saying goodbye.

Bauer and Iasiello, both who began their swimming careers with the Kids Club team during middle school, joked that the best part of swimming was the end of practice but the commitment and camaraderie among this close-knit group was hard to deny.

Senior Morgan Fehnel talked about the fun of playing water polo at times instead of a traditional practice and Jared Iasiello reminisced about times when the reward for a winning away meet meant stopping for dinner on the way home.

Most of the graduating seniors have worked together for months at a time over the past four years through tough practices, challenging meets and early morning workouts and the group agreed – these things have brought them together.

“This year seems better than ever on the team,” said Bauer, who will swim at Penn State Behrand next year. “In the past we’ve had scheduled ‘team building’ activities that we didn’t do this season but this year we’re just close as team. We do things together like going to breakfast and going bowling – we’re closer as a team than we’ve ever been.”

And that closeness is paying off for many of the seniors with several district qualifying times among them and a new pool record set by a team that includes three of the graduating seniors in the boys 400 freestyle relay.

Looking forward, the seniors acknowledged the impact swimming has had on their lives.

“It’s a great sport if you want to stay in shape,” said Iasiello. “It’s hard work but it’s great exercise.”

Several of the team’s swimmers compete in other sports but leverage swimming to stay in shape in the offseason. The group also credits swimming with teaching them strength and perseverance.

“Swimming helps you learn how to really try your best and work hard to reach your goals,” said Fehnel as she reflected on the life lessons the past four years have given her.

“Swimming shows you that you always have a little more,” added Baur. “You can push yourself even further than you thought possible and you find out that when you thought you had given it your all – you can still find a little more strength or effort to give.”

Northampton will honor its senior swimmers on Thursday night, Feb. 16, during their last home meet against Easton High School. The meet begins at 5 p.m.