As the end of July nears, summer swim teams around the area prepare for the final weeks of their seasons and participate in pool traditions. Pools like Wakefield Chapel, Ravensworth Farm and Forest Hollow are located around the Annandale area and enjoyed by many AHS students. These pools all have very competitive swim teams, leading to many team traditions. One thing most of these swimmers look forward to are Friday night pep rallies before every A-meet, which take place on Saturday mornings throughout the summer.

“After a whole summer of waking up early every day of the week you kind of get used to it, so it’s difficult trying to transition into sleeping in,” sophomore Michelle Burnett (Wakefield Chapel) said.

Throughout the summer, swimmers practice in the mornings before the pool opens to the public every day of the week. Monday nights consist of B-meets, which are mainly for younger swimmers and often go on for hours. A-meets are on Saturday mornings and are much more competitive due to the fact that a score is kept. These meets can often come down to relays, which take place at the end of the meet.

“Our first meet of the season against Forest Hollow was one of our best. We finished victorious, but it came down to who won the most relays, so it was a really exciting meet,” sophomore Melanie Bennett (Ravensworth Farm) said.

Many of these pools participate in traditions that have lasted many years to keep their teams pumped up and ready to win their meets, such as pep rallies, fun days and pancake breakfasts.

“We have pancake breakfasts every Tuesday after practice since our B-meets go on for hours and everyone gets home so late,” junior Meghan Lynn (Wakefield Chapel) said.

“Every Friday night we have a themed pep rally. This week is pajama themed so the entire team dresses up in pajamas and we have a pot luck dinner and finish the night off with some cheers to get ready for the next morning’s meet,” senior Alli Foster (Ravensworth Farm) said.