By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – When ranking the most demanding sports, unless it’s an Olympic year that briefly pushes the human torpedoes to the forefront of public consciousness, swimming gets overlooked. Early mornings, miles of workouts, an exhausted body after fighting through the water (which is 800 times denser than air), does that sound like fun?
In the movie A League of Their Own, Jimmy Dugan snarled “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” That applies to swimming, plus it’s the hard that makes it fun, if there is company to share the misery. The reward is more than seconds shaved off the clock.
Bedford North Lawrence’s senior trio of leaders will emphasize the fun part of the difficult. That will make the rest of it worth the sacrifice.
The Stars started official practice sessions for the 2026-27 season on Monday, with fresh water in the refurbished pool and a new-look roster mixing talented veterans among untested newcomers. It falls on seniors Mia Manke, Emma Heinzman and Avery Brown to keep everyone afloat during a grueling campaign. Their style will shift the primary focus from the ticking taskmaster.
“I just want to have fun,” said Manke, who has bounced back from a concussion that curtailed her junior season. “The last three years, I was focused on times, and that took away from the sport a little bit. When you’re always focused on being faster, you’re hard on yourself with your expectations. Just enjoy the sport and try to make a positive difference.
“A leader is someone who lifts up the team, who cheers during meets and it always there for their teammates. They’re a positive model for everyone.”
“It’s somebody who puts themselves out there,” Brown said, “and makes sure everyone is doing their part.”
There will be plenty of time to practice that art. Winter is depressing enough, and it can get mean when darkness descends early. Those are the hard days.
“It’s so hard, but the thing that makes it fun is the people,” Heinzman said. “I wouldn’t be here without them. It makes it easier to have fun while still doing hard things.”
Success is also fun, and BNL has talent to enjoy that aspect as well. Sabrina Lipp, a junior freestyler, is coming back to chase another state finals berth. She won the sectional last year in the 50-yard free, then finished 31st in the state meet.
“My expectation is her getting back to the state finals, and swimming on Saturday (in the chase for a state medal),” BNL coach Adam Young said. “That will be tough, but doable. And it would be nice to get a relay up there.
“We have new swimmers, which is great because the numbers are up. We have a lot to learn.”
The rest of the roster will include Mackenzie Held, Alaina Fish, Skylar Neeley, Kendall Held, Ariana Combs, Vivienne Parker, Kandyn Rood and Charlie Brown.
BNL will open the season at Edgewood on Nov. 24.
