From lessons at the YMCA and swimming at Slauson Middle School to now Pioneer synchronized swimming captain, CHS senior Brook Fagan has been in the pool for as long as she can remember.
“I could swim before I could walk,” Fagan said. “I’ve always been a water person.”
Fagan began synchronized swimming in sixth grade when she entered Slauson Middle School. The swimmers would pick music, choreograph and then perform short routines with simple figures. Although the team was small and made up of new swimmers, she found it fun and a great experience to be introduced to the sport.
Synchronized swimming has two parts to a season. First, swimmers perform a series of motions in the water individually, known as figures. Each athlete is scored on their figures, and those points are added together with the rest of their team. Pioneer placed first at figure states in the 24-25 season.
Then swimmers compete in group routines, where they synchronize figures, motions and lifts in the water. Lifts can be set up in many different ways; they are similar to cheer lifts as they tend to consist of a flyer, base and supports. However, swimmers do these movements without touching the bottom of the pool. To keep them afloat, athletes use quick motions called egg beaters where they kick their legs in alternating circular motions.
On Saturday, March 8, Fagan led her team to their 22nd State Championship. Although it was a close meet, Pioneer’s figure scores from earlier in the season pushed them over the top. This led to them reclaiming their state title.
“I said it. I said we’d do anything to win.” Fagan said. “I said we’re gonna come and take Troy down, and here we are. We took [them] down and jumped in the pool with our clothes on.”
Pioneer competed six of their routines: two technical, two duet, a trio and a combo. Each category has different required components. A combo features elements of a solo, duet and trio all in the same routine, while a technical routine requires certain figures or motions to be done synchronized in a group of around eight people.
The season has been filled with hours of practice, team dinners, fundraisers and countless memories. Some of Fagan’s favorites included cheering for her teammates routines and having her friends show up for her at Senior Night, a meet in which seniors are celebrated for all of their work and accomplishments.
“I think we’ve grown so much,” Fagan said. “I’m seeing new teammates come in, and I’m seeing how good and how committed they are to the team, and just everything we do.”
Of the six routines, Fagan swam in three, earning a second and two first-place medals.
“I’m gonna miss this team so much. It’s been four years of just the most fun sport I’ve ever done. So it’s gonna be hard to say bye,” Fagan said. “I know this team is in good hands, and I’m super excited. We have incredible nominees for captains and every underclassman has been coming in better.”
The team ended their season with a water show at Pioneer High School the following day. It consisted of all eight competition routines, plus two additional ones that the team learned that morning. With seven seniors leaving, the team surely won’t be the same. While it can be hard to say goodbye, the skills, growth and memories made will last a lifetime.
