Today 14 swimmers are competing in the Regional Championship Meet at the Keller Aquatic Center.

“District is (one) of the most important meets of the year and that is the time to show how hard you have been working all year,” junior Kyle Neeley said. “It’s do or die time.”

At the District meet on Jan. 24, the Girls Team placed fourth overall and the Guys Team placed third. Four medals were awarded for the individual events while three were given for the relays.

“All of our kids swam great, dropped time, had fun and represented (the school) with pride,” Coach Amy Lamar said.

Junior Katlin Schledewitz said it was a difficult journey to get to this point.

“I set goals at the beginning of the year and every morning I woke up at 4:45 a.m., to work my hardest to achieve those goals,” she said.

To Neeley, who swam last year, this time was different in comparison.

“Last year at District I honestly knew that I wasn’t going to make it so I didn’t really try my hardest,” he said. “This year, I knew I had a good chance to swim my heart out.”

Schledewitz placed third in the 500 free, the longest event of the meet.

“When I touched the wall after my 500 free, I looked and saw my 11 second time drop and that I had placed third,” she said. “Everything I worked for paid off.”

Schledewitz will also compete in a relay.

“I may not be placed to come back for finals on Saturday, but I actually made my spot to be there for both of my individual events and both of the relays I’m in,” she said.

The process of advancing, though long, has been rewarding Schledewitz said.

She said, “I am proud of what I have done because I know I’ve worked my hardest to reach it.”