Ending the season with a splash, Mid-Pacific Girls and Boys Swimming teams secured a spot at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) State Swimming Championships.

It is no secret that practice makes perfect.

Seniors Knut Robinson and Elilai Petko are proof that the work you put in will come back to you.

Robinsonʻs love for swimming really shines through in his performance. He trains twice every day because he believes there’s always room for improvement.

He wakes up at 5 a.m. for practice and gets to school by 8 a.m. Then he has afternoon practice from 3:30 to 6 p.m.

“I have been swimming since I was 5 years old. I love when I’m passing other people in the water,” said Robinson “Itʻs my biggest motivation.”.

He follows a strict after-school practice ritual of visiting Chick-Fil-A with his friends. They end the day with a savory reward and team bonding.

Petko follows a similar routine of school and practices every day.

She goes to practice every day along with occasional weekend practices. If there are no weekend practices, you will most likely find her at the beach exercising and doing laps on her own.

“I wouldn’t say I am a very talented swimmer but I like to work hard,” said Petko.

In her junior year, she was the girl’s most valuable player. This year, she qualified for states and was one of the four people to represent Mid-Pacific.

The team takes the time to do visualizations during practice because a strong body needs a strong mind.

Their coach will guide them through race days with their eyes closed to help the swimmers prepare mentally for their races.