The 2025-2026 winter season has started, and the sports have changed from volleyball, football, and field hockey to basketball, wrestling, and swimming. Swimming is a pretty popular sport at OHS, and Coach Jeane Ryder said that so far, “I’m having a lot of fun. We have a lot of new freshmen.” The Osbourn swim team held tryouts on November 12th. Ryder said, “We didn’t have to cut anybody this year, which is great!” However, they recently had their first meet on December 6th. They practice four times a week at the Freedom Center, and freshman Joanne Pendleton said, “[Practices] are fun and tiring. Coach Ryder is nice, but she pushes us.”
As they got ready for their first meet, everyone started with a different background in swimming. With lots of fresh faces, both new and experienced in the sport, everyone is working hard. “I’ve been swimming on Sudley Swim team since I was six. Last year, I practiced with the OHS swim team,” said Pendleton. Coach Ryder herself said, “I’ve been a swimmer my entire life, and I love this sport.” Grace Gomez Martinez, a junior, said, “I have been swimming since I was six years old in Stonewall Swim Team, only during the summer. I started my sophomore year swimming for Osbourn.”
Swim means different things to different people. For some, it’s therapy, and for others it’s a workout, but everyone joined for different reasons. Pendleton said, “My friend and I have been wanting to join for a few years.” Gomez Martinez said she joined because, “Obviously, my teammates and my coaches, but mostly my love for swimming. Some practices are challenging mentally and physically, but what helps me through those hard days is putting a smile on my face and making it fun.” Ryder said, “This is my fifth season coaching, and I was excited for the opportunity to coach.”
The swim season doesn’t end until February 2026, and until then, swimmers will continue to work towards their goals. Pendleton said, “My goal is to do a 100 fly and a 400 IM.” My goals for this year are to do the 500 freestyle, improve my times, meet new people, and have fun. Me and my coaches have a love/hate relationship, obviously they push me to my limits, but they also know and believe in me that I can do it,” said Gomez Martinez. Ryder wants, “A lot of personal records, a lot of fun, and a lot of fast swims.”
Swim isn’t the only thing keeping these swimmers busy. Balancing schoolwork, other extracurriculars, and a high school sport can be difficult and daunting. Pendleton said, “I dance at Spotlight Dance Company and do OHS theatre.” Gomez Martinez said, “It is hard to balance schoolwork and swimming, but it helps me see what my priorities are and to be present in life instead of my phone.”
The OHS swim team has upcoming meets on these dates:
December 12 vs Osbourn Park High School
December 20: Cardinal Classic
January 9 vs Patriot High School
January 24 vs Battlefield High School
January 30: District Championships
February 13: Regional Championships
February 21: State Championships
meyli Gomez hernandez • Dec 17, 2025 at 10:36 am
Since I wasn’t on the team, I didn’t experience the four day a week practices at the Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center, but it’s cool to see how hard they work. The season just started with their first meet on December 6th, and Coach Ryder actually didn’t have to cut anyone this year, which is great for the new freshmen.
Engel Diaz Diaz • Dec 9, 2025 at 11:29 am
I did not know there was a swim team, it is nice to see that the team speaks enthusiastically about swimming(no surprise though I mean they applied to join it). I hope they can win against their competition!