The Camas High School (CHS) girls swim team has had a victorious season so far, winning several meets back-to-back. Now, the swim team has reached a high of 65 members, growing bigger by the year. With this in mind, it has been left to not only the coaches but also the captains who oversee the team to foster a welcoming community for everyone.

For the past two years, the CHS girls swim team has had three captains — a difference from previous years, when there were only two. As the team continues to grow, additional support is needed.

The team captains, Kennedy Phelan, Mishal Rafique, and Kathryn Sitler, shared their experiences and the lessons learned during their senior year.

“For me, this year, the team has definitely grown,” Phelan said. “That has been a new learning curve — getting to know everyone, and trying to make [swim] feel safe.”

“Now, I know that I have to lead the stretches, [along] with the meets and everything,” Rafique said.

Alongside the responsibilities of being a captain, the captains have worked diligently to make the swim community a safer place. That involves going out of their comfort zone to greet students who are new to the team.

“I definitely feel like it has been different, as in the years past I only felt responsible for myself,” Phelan said.

“And now, I want to make sure the whole team is swimming well,” Sitler said

This year, the captains have implemented a carpooling system for underclassmen to help them get rides to school and events. Many team bonding activities are coordinated throughout the season.

“The [activities] matter, as I believe in good, [yet] small changes, and implementing [those] changes through the role I’ve taken on this team,” said Phelan. 

Even with the responsibilities of captaincy, the girls devote their time to other places as well. When Rafique is outside of the pool, she volunteers at a hospital and leads a volunteer team. For Phelan, she is involved in a couple of clubs around the school, including being the secretary for the Pickleball Club in years prior. Sitler was one of the many captains in the track team, helping set a foundation for her leadership experience.

“This has been a lot more involved and [has] a lot more requirements, rather than having the title [of a] captain, there are responsibilities and expectations,” Sitler said.“People do care about me, and they want me to succeed—that was really something I will take with me, even if that is not a huge life lesson.”

“I’m honored by being captain; that is what I will take with me,” Rafique said. “All of the friends [I have made on the swim team] are my real friends.”

Kelly Dean, who has been the head coach of the CHS girls swim team for two years now, notes the various changes in the swim team since she became head coach. One key change is the permanency of three captains, which many students surrounding the swim team have supported. 

“We have a large team and [a] very diverse community,” Dean said. “Having three captains that the team chooses ensures a better representation of every member.  Since senior year is already packed full of responsibilities, we can spread the load a bit to ensure the team gets what they need.”

With annual adjustments, the CHS girls swim team is slowly improving year by year, to provide a community that meets the needs of everyone. Dean claims that these changes have worked well for the whole of the team, and she continues to collaborate with the captains to ensure the team’s success.