Burrell High School's swimmers do more than make their coach smile. "With a long season you get to know the kids. They're just funny. They make me laugh, [with] their stories. I can only speak highly of all the kids," says Coach Barbara Medvec.

"They are a lot of fun. Every day is different at practice with them. They're alive—every meet is a challenge and they always own up to the challenge. They always come through, they're prepared. It's not boring at all. My kids put every thing into it and more, whatever they need to do. And they are kids who are involved in a lot of activities. They are very well organized and they study. They definitely know how to juggle their time."

Swimming is considered an individual sport; each member wins or loses his own race, and often just bettering one's own time is a reward in itself. But Medvec believes this group is unique in that they are more than that. "I see them as a team. They are constantly supporting each other. Girls support the girls [team,] boys support the boys [team.] It's wonderful to work with a group of kids like that. That's why I am still coaching, because they are a great group of kids. I have been coaching 20 years—that's what keeps me in it."

Burrell's boys' swim team is 7-3 overall at this point, and the girls' team is 6-3 overall. Medvec, assisted by Marty Bosin (retired high school tennis coach-turned-swim-coach) leads squads that only have 5 seniors among them. The swim program has recently enjoyed a lot of success, and faces a new challenge this year as Indiana, a powerhouse swim team, has now moved into the section.

Medvec talks on camera about her club and the swimmers that make it up in this video interview