“Take your mark.”

The natatorium quiets, waiting for the signal. As soon as the whistle blows, swimmers spring from their blocks, racing to pierce the water’s surface.

Last Tuesday, Nov. 11, Bellaire swim and dive hosted its preseason meet against Langham Creek and won.

“The room was packed and there were so many of us, but it just made the environment more fun and competitive,” junior and captain of the varsity girls water polo team Nicole Dibos said.

This season reflects a few changes in the traditionally senior-led Bellaire swim and dive team. With only three seniors at the varsity-level between the girls and boys team, captaincy opened up to a select few juniors like Selina Qiu.

“[Captaincy] is still pretty new [to me], but at the recent meet, we taught the freshmen our cheer,” Qiu said. “I really enjoyed this because, before, I never really enjoyed the cheer because I was just kind of long, but it was fun to teach them and do it with them.”

Even without a senior majority, the team made its competition appear comparatively small, largely outnumbering the Langham swimmers in every event.

“We’re not very small but we are also not very big. We have a lot of star swimmers who really pull through,” Dibos said.

In Dibos’s experience, larger teams score higher because there is a greater margin for underperformance and a higher number of particularly fast swimmers. The primary way a swimmer contributes to the team is through individual performance.

“You just need to focus on yourself. You have to train by yourself or train with your team to get better,” sophomore Christopher Gee said. “You can’t just say, ‘I’m not going to practice and I’m not going to do anything.’ You must keep a routine.”

With a larger team comes the need for multiple practices. Head Coach Gary Johnson divides practice into two parts: the first practice occurs during zero period and the second during first period. For those who swim for a club outside of school, attending school practice is optional, but there are club swimmers who still opt to attend.

“[Both practices] do the same sets and the lanes are free for the students to choose from as anyone can swim with anyone,” junior and varsity-swimmer Teresa Cheng, who attends zero period practice, said.

Swimmers find that practices and other time spent together outside of meets is how they get to know their teammates the best.

“You may not see your teammates outside of school all the time, but it’s nice to say ‘hi’ or have a friendly conversation when you see your teammate in the hallway,” Dibos said.

The team comprises more than just the swimmers, though. Parent volunteers work concessions at home meets to raise money for the team and always show their support from the poolside.

“There are quite a few people on the team and many parents come,” Cheng said. “The students are very competitive and supportive of each other.”

As districts approach, athletes and parents must prepare to face strong competition and larger teams.

“The biggest competition, for the boys at least, will probably be Westside,” senior and varsity captain Samuel Wen said. “Strategy-wise, we just have to really work on our relays because those are worth double points.”

Every season has to start somewhere and Bellaire’s begins with their first district game against Lamar this Thursday, Dec. 14.