By Alyssa Book and Alesha McCulloch

Saturday at 6:00 p.m, the girls’ swim team will battle at Highland Hills Middle School for the Sectional finals.

Last year the girls finished in first place, and coach Joe Perkins is hoping for the same results in 2013, although the girls know they have some real competition.

“The team’s biggest competition this year is New Albany, they have a fast team this year so sectionals could be close,” said sophomore Meg Taylor.

Perkins is preparing the team for the big race by cutting back on yardage and making the girls rest more during practice. He also mentioned focusing more on turns and finishes.

Senior Sarah Taylor will be hitting the pool for her last sectional race, and this one brings emotions that were not present in the years past.

“It’s bittersweet for me,  it’s sad because this is my last high school meet but I am excited to see my future holds.”

Taylor went on to say that all year the girls have been lifting weights to prepare for special meets, but in the weeks leading up to sectionals, they begin to taper and back off on their yardage.

“I get really hydrated and got to bed super early the night before and I’m superstitious, so I eat a banana before every meet,” said sophomore Maryn Meldrum on preparing for meets.

Not only have the girls prepared physically, they have been supporting each other out of the pool and encouraging each other to reach their full potentials.

Meldrum encourages her teammates by reminding them “we all have the same goal, win conference and keep the sectional title. Were all friends and competitors that keep each other focused in and out of the pool.”

“This would be our sixth consecutive year winning. We would love to make that happen. It would show that all our hard work has paid off,” said Taylor.