Swimming: Patriots returning core stepping up as leaders in 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. — The Century Patriots girls swim and dive squad has been dominant over the last nine years, winning eight state titles. After losing a trio of key seniors from a year ago, the Patriots are looking for returning state qualifiers to take the next steps as leaders.

Two returners accepting the challenge and adopting leadership roles are Abby Jablonsky and Sienna Mrachek. The junior duo has stepped up in and out of the pool, not only leading by example, but also growing their voices for the team.

“Sienna was voted by her peers to actually be a captain this year as a junior, which is a big honor,” head coach Spencer Wheeling says. “When you get voted on by your peers to lead that role and they’re one of the first people here every day. We have our optional mourning practices, they encourage the girls to get there. They do a lot of coordination outside of the pool as well as in and so on. The girls even lead by example in the pool and it says a lot of their character and what they mean to this team.”

“It’s been great,” Mrachek adds. “Me and Abby are taking it on really well. We’re both trying to be motivating and positive. There’s a bunch of other girls, sophomores, freshmen, and even some eighth graders that are stepping up as well and just really taking on the role. It just means everything to me. I have the best teammates ever and I’m just so happy that I get to lead them this year.”

A key for the Patriots success has been their committment to the sport day in and day out. Century holds morning practices in different capacities, and the team says that at least 20 athletes are showing up daily to improve individually, and as a team.

“It’s awesome to see as a coach when you have a group that wants to set out and obtain goals and go to those optional practices,” Wheeling says. “It does take a lot of work to obtain a state title and sometimes it takes a little extra work to get that title depending on the year. So, the fact that they can continue that after winning a title, hitting the reset button, all those morning workouts, extra practices, we got to do the same thing if we want the same result, if not a little more, says a lot of this team. It’s a really fun team to coach.”

“It’s been amazing,” Hannah McEvers adds. “We’ve had a lot of seventh and eighth graders come out in the mornings and it just shows that they’re committed and that they really want to be in this sport. So, it’s just really amazing seeing all these girls step up and wanting to be a part of the team.”

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