By Sebastian Beltran – Social Media Editor

Senior Captain Samuel Porzelt is preparing for his final swimming season with his first meet set for December 18.

“This season, I see myself as someone new swimmers can turn to for help or advice, and as one of several captains, I see myself as a role model and an uplifting figure,” Porzelt said.

Porzelt spoke highly of his teammates and the team’s work ethic in preseason.

“I see the team as a great group of kids all looking to better themselves each day. Everyone works extremely hard during practice, and it really reflects during meets,” Porzelt said.

Porzelt has set clear goals for both himself and the team as the season begins.

“My goals for my senior year as captain are to set a good example for the younger members while also pushing myself to beat personal and school records,” Porzelt said.

Porzelt has been consistently conditioning and practicing, while also making sure every swimmer is working toward improvement each day. His leadership has made a strong impact on the team.

“Sam helps the team in several important ways,” senior Onuralp Unal said. “First, he leads by example, showing a strong work ethic, discipline, and dedication in both practice and during meetings. This pushes others to work harder and stay motivated. Second, he supports teammates individually by encouraging them and offering advice, especially during tough practices or high-pressure meetings. Finally, Sam helps create a positive and unified team environment by communicating well, keeping everyone focused on team goals, and reinforcing accountability and teamwork.”

Porzelt shared advice for new swimmers or those considering joining the team.

“Some advice I would give to new swimmers or people looking to join the team would be to keep in mind that not everything comes easy to most people. Don’t get discouraged if people in other lanes are swimming faster than you or know more strokes,” Porzelt said. “Just focus on your workout and building skills and techniques, and you’ll quickly be able to start producing new records.”

As captain, Samuel is also responsible for leading up every kid on the team 

“Sam helps in a way that if we do something wrong, instead of criticizing us, he helps us fix it and gives encouraging words to help us improve and strive to do the right thing,” freshman Kellen Northup said.

With strong leadership and a positive attitude, Porzelt is setting the tone for a successful season and making an impact on the team.

“He motivates me since he is such a role model for me, as a new swimmer, to get better at swimming and do my best,” freshman Kingsley Cheng said.