Senior Ryan Lane capped off his high school swimming career with an impressive performance at the 5/6A state finals, placing second in the 50-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard freestyle. His success propelled him to a final rank of 25th in the state.
“It’s always a good feeling to know that all the work you’ve put into it has paid off,” Lane said.
Not only did Lane shine at state, but he also broke the school’s all-time record in the 50-yard freestyle, twice. A week before state, Lane set the record with a time of 21.43 seconds. At state, he broke his own record with an even faster time of 21.21 seconds.
“It’s really cool to know that my name will be on the record board,” Lane said. “But it also just feels good to be that fast. I had no idea I would break it.”
Lane’s success didn’t go unnoticed by his coach and teammates. He was named one of the senior team captains and continued to inspire the team all throughout the season.
“Ryan’s ability to compete and race inspires his teammates, competitors, and everyone around the pool,” head swim coach Elle Weber said. “It was a great season for Ryan, and I really enjoyed watching him thrive during his senior year.”
Senior and fellow captain Ike Adams recognized Lane’s positive influence on the team.
“Ryan’s leadership and skill pushed all of us to be better,” Adams said. “He was always there to lift us up.”
Lane’s leadership and commitment were key factors in his stellar season.
“He was always very encouraging and supportive of his teammates, especially the underclassmen,” said Weber. “He would work with them on little things—like turns or starts—during practice to help them become better swimmers.”
Mental strength also played a critical role in Lane’s success. Despite occasional moments of self-doubt, he remained focused on improvement and didn’t let tough practices hinder his progress.
“Ryan had moments when he felt less confident, but these didn’t get him down,” Weber said. “After hard practices, he and I would talk about how the set went, and those conversations were some of my favorite moments.”
One of Lane’s most admirable qualities is his ability to focus and become relaxed right before his races.
“I remember quite a few times when we were at the school about to go to swim meets. We would call people to make sure that they were on their way to the pool. More than once I’ve called Ryan to make sure that he’s coming over to the pool and he has answered half asleep because he decided to take a nap right before we left,” Adams said.
For Lane, having a strong support system made all the difference.
“I’m really happy with this season,” Lane said. “Honestly, it reignited my love for swimming and the sport as a whole.”