The Nacogdoches Swim Team had their annual Black and Gold meet this past Saturday. Black and Gold provides a great benefit to the swimmers, both individually and as a group.

“It points out their strongest qualities when we break them in half, so when we combine we’re even better,” Coach Carrie Scroggins said.

Black and Gold is an annual meet that the swim team does every year around Homecoming. They compete for points in a water polo game, swim meet, spirit competition, and alumni presence. The swim team is sorted into two teams, black and gold, to compete against each other.

“I think my favorite part of the meet is the water polo game,” sophomore Maddie Gayden said. “I think it’s fun to play with different people, and compete against people I wouldn’t normally compete against.”

Even in the midst of competing against each other, the team still manages to bond together.

“I think the competition brings the team together,” sophomore Sebastian Cortes said. “Competing with each other bonds us together, and helps us do better when we come together as a whole team.”

The swim team does many activities together outside of competing as well. They do swim gatherings, and have parties that all help them grow closer.

“I love the bus rides home, and the team social gatherings like at coach’s house,” senior Lina Willardson said. “I think they really help bring us together as a team.”

Swim just has a great community even though they have such a range of ages and grade levels.  This year, the Gold team won the Black and Gold Competition, earning the most points in all categories except alumni presence.

“I really love the community of the swim team,” freshman Darby Rahman said. “Even the upperclassmen will go out of their way to include the freshman, and it’s just really nice to feel like I’m a part of the team.”