After being defeated in their season opener against Francis Howell North, the girls’ swim team buckled down and focused on their goals to make their way to the top. The Pirates rebounded and on Dec. 6, the Pattonville girls’ swim team defeated Hazelwood Central.

After this win, their dedication has and will continue to pay off for the girls’ swim team.

“This meet taught us that hard work pays off,” Madelyn Hubbs said. “We lost our first meet last week, so this was an exciting win to take,” Madelyn Hubbs said.

Gabrielle Shipman wants to work to improve her times in her events.

“I want to get really close to state times, not necessarily at state times, but I want to get closer to them,” she said. “In order to do that, I am going to have to work hard at practice.”

The girls on the team vary in their swimming experience ranging from swimming from a really early age to those that are new to the sport.

“After swimming for many years, I took a year off, and I just started swimming again this season,” Richa Boara said.