One pool, four schools: Apponequet combined swim team making shared waves
Molly Marcus get her laps in during a recent practice at the Middleboro YMCA. This year, Apponequet and Middleboro high schools combined their swim teams, since both schools are out of a home-pool. Photos by Sam Tucker
Eleanor Jackson practices the breaststroke. Head Coach Sean Siciliano said the team has a range of experienced swimmers to new comers. 
This year's combined team has 31 athletes from Middleboro, Apponequet, Old Colony and East Bridgewater high schools.
A handful of swimmers touted the unique atmosphere of the cross-school team this year.
Molly Marcus get her laps in during a recent practice at the Middleboro YMCA. This year, Apponequet and Middleboro high schools combined their swim teams, since both schools are out of a home-pool. Photos by Sam Tucker
Eleanor Jackson practices the breaststroke. Head Coach Sean Siciliano said the team has a range of experienced swimmers to new comers.
This year's combined team has 31 athletes from Middleboro, Apponequet, Old Colony and East Bridgewater high schools.
A handful of swimmers touted the unique atmosphere of the cross-school team this year.
With both Middleboro and Apponequet High School pools out of commission, a new combined swim team of 31 athletes are practicing and competing together.
This is the second year Apponequet’s pool has been closed due to maintenance issues. Middleboro’s swimmers practiced in their pool last year, but it is also currently closed due to leaking issues.
Middleboro coach Sean Siciliano and Apponequet coach Tracy Owen said fewer swim lanes and more swimmers at practice at the Middleboro YMCA pool has been a big change. They said through it, cross-school athletes are making waves in progress and companionship.
All together, the four-school team has 31 athletes, with a small number from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical and East Bridgewater high schools. Middleboro and East Bridgewater high schools already swam as a combined team.
Siciliano and Owen agreed they didn’t know what kind of team dynamic the combination would bring.
“Overall, the kids have done really well with it. I think we're fortunate enough that over the years, they've crossed paths, whether or not they’re swimming against each other,” Owens said.
“It's going great,” Siciliano said. “ You bring two different teams together, and you don't know what you're going to get.”
At practice, the team uses about six lanes to divide athletes based on experience. Siciliano said the team has swimmers who have competed in clubs for years, as well as athletes still learning foundational skills.
Through the assortment of schools and levels of experience, one thing stands out for Middleboro senior Caleb Crostie.
“Everyone's just nice, it's probably the nicest sport ever,” said Caleb, who competes in the 500 yard freestyle and the 100 yard breaststroke events.
Apponequet senior Charlotte Carvalho, who swims the 100-yard freestyle and breaststroke events, said the combined team has given them a full roster to compete in every event at meets. She said the community of the team has only grown with the addition of the other schools.
“I think having all the schools here is just really great. It took a little bit to get to know each other, but it was just great to have all new faces and learn from everybody,” Charlotte said.
Although she misses the extra space at her home pool at Middleboro High School, junior Grace Lynch said the new atmosphere of the combined team offers new people to know and friendships to be made.
“It's not just about the pool where we swim in. It's all about the people,” she said, “and how we want to improve, and how we want our fellow teammates to improve and have fun.”
Grace, who competes in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events, said like other athletes she enjoys the new team, but hopes Apponequet can fundraise to fix their pool in the near future.
