The predominant goal for Freedom’s swim team at the beginning of the year was to enter individuals in the MACs and WPIALs Championships. The team has found definite success in this goal, with two relay teams consisting of four people each and two individuals competing in MACs. Junior Casum Matlick and Freshman Julia Fliessner will be competing based on their exceptional times in their individual races. “It’s the first time I’ll be going to MACs as an individual, and I’m just happy that I can go,” Matlick said. The last opportunity for team members to achieve these times was at the Northgate meet Feb. 4. Though some swimmers in the running didn’t quite make it, Head Coach Bill Layton made it clear, “I’m proud of my swimmers,” he said.“They do all I ask of them.” This year, the team grew substantially from “the great eight” of last year adding on numerous swimmers. Of these members Layton found one individual, Senior Zac Wilson, inspiring. “When he first came to the team, he wasn’t able to make a length of the pool. Now Zac is swimming a 50 yard freestyle for me and going off the starting blocks,” Layton said. Wilson’s progress was partially attributed to the support of his team members as well. “I’m proud of… his teammates [for] helping,” Layton said. This support is good news for anyone hoping to join the team that is looking to expand once again next year. “I’m hoping to pick up at least another [six] to 10 more swimmers,” Layton said. “It’s just going to give us more depth and… make the whole [program] stronger.” The coach also wanted to make it clear that he plans on even more success for the team in the future. He still stands by the goals he had in the past. “When I first took this job three years ago, I said that I [wanted] to hang a championship banner in our gymnasium in five years,” Layton said. Individuals have built their own goals for next year. “I’m hoping that I can possibly make it to WPIALs,” Matlick said.