The Fishers High School girls swimming team completed their state season this past Saturday, Feb. 14. With the main competitive season being over, many of the swimmers remain in the Fishers Area Swimming Tigers (FAST) club, which runs all year, including high school students from outside Fishers High School.
Junior Sophie Blue has been swimming since the age of seven. She was on the Tigers state team for Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA)’s Championship Finals.
“I don’t really miss the high school season because it’s basically the same thing year-round [with FAST club]. I liked the high school swim meets, so I’ll miss those,” Blue said. “We still have regular competitions, but they are less frequent than during the high school season.”
The FAST club is led by Joe Keller, the girls’ swim and dive coach. Competitions are less frequent, but the events remain the same as the normal season.
“We have a lot of people coming from other schools, so it’s a bit bigger, but it’s pretty much the same,” Blue said. “Last year, we were a gold medal club, which means we got a specific number of points [in competition]. We also had a few people go to Olympic trials.”
There are nine divisions of FAST, ranging in age and skill level. The high school swimmers are typically in emerging elite, elite, and national division, which are the three highest divisions.
“It’s the same practice schedule… not everyone who swims club swims high school.” Emily Wolf said.
In 2024, Junior Emily Wolf attended the Olympic trials in Indianapolis as a sophomore in high school. That year, four swimmers from Fishers High School attended during the FAST season.
With the more competitive high school season concluded, swimmers like sophomore Elise Eubank continue in FAST to compete and train.
“[For FAST], we have our big state meets in March, like our [high school] championships.” Eubank said.
Eubank swims the 100 and 500-yard backstroke for FAST. Swimming distance can be further in some events compared to high school competitions.
“[FAST] is a lot more practice, and a lot longer [in season],” Eubank said, “The high school season sometimes has more people, and then [for FAST], it’s mostly the same people.”
Due to the opportunity FAST provides for students in the city, the swimming season for many competitive swimmers never ends. Practices resume on the same schedule, and those with a love for swimming participate together for many months.
