Happy Holidays from Pioneer Swimming !

Swimming doesn’t pause for Pioneers abroad

Rachel is just wrapping up her studies abroad in Chile before returning home for the holidays and rejoining us for Winter Training. In November she participated in III Copa San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo, Chile. The swim was contested in one of the largest pools in the world. Here is her story.............

The pool is over a kilometer long and is literally a few hundred feet from the ocean. Although the water is ocean water, it is crystal clear and maintained at about 28 degrees Celsius all year - that's cold for a pool, warm for the ocean, and perfect for an open water swim. I entered with a friend in the 3000 meters and we raced against over 150 other competitors from all over the world and all age groups. I finished in about the middle of the pack.



My friend won his division (he's the guy standing next to me with the medal after our swim). We all received participation medals, but the real prize was spending a perfect sunny day in San Alfonso, swimming in that incredible pool, and watching the sun set over the last group of swimmers racing the 5000 meters.



Swimming is a natural high, and the adrenaline and endorphins after that race were the best I've ever felt. At the end of the day, I was tired and happy and it was truly an unforgettable experience.

Men Smash 20 Year-Old Relay Record!

Few words necessary. Steven, Shu, Chris and Noah fulfilled a many-year quest by recent generations of Pio men as they blew away the 200 Medley Relay record swimming in tonight’s finals.

Congratulations on a whole team effort!

--photo by Lee Taylor

Day II Prelims

Excellent morning for us! Strong swims in prelims with six individuals and two relays qualifying for tonight’s finals. Rachael continues her roll by lowering her own 100 backstroke record from last year’s championship.

A few spectacular pics from the first day of racing by senior swimmer Lee Taylor!

Husky Invite Day I

Day one is through. Day two draws near and with it more races, more cheering, more team meals and precious moments to nap or throw an impromptu van dance party.

Caz kicked our day into high gear in prelims with an inspiring School Record swim in her 50 freestyle. Congratulations! She would go on to lower this time another tenth in finals.



Freshmen Alli, Taylor, and Kayla all moved into the top-10 all-time for Pioneer swimmers. Alli and Taylor got into the record books in the 200 IM and Kayla in the 50. Sky is the limit!

During some down time, our team shows how they put the STUDENT in student-athlete.

Or working their magic on teammates' hair...

Husky Invite begins Friday!

Pio swimmers are all comfortably tucked into their hotel rooms as we await great swims tomorrow morning in prelims. Let the racing begin!