Breaking Records and Defying Odds
By Alexia Sang
In the span of two weeks, six girls on the Owasso High School swim team have managed to break every girls’ meter relay record in school history. Seniors Olivia Ross, Haley Raburn and Elizabeth Patterson, along with junior Kenzee Hampton and sophomores Taylor Hamilton and Alexia Sang, unexpectedly broke the girls 200 medley, 200 free and 400 free meter relay records. Their success was an emotional event not only for the girls involved, but all those who attended— even bringing the coaches to tears.
The team’s home pool in Claremore is being remodeled as of June 2020. Our swimmers awake at 4:00 in the morning to be bussed to Union High School in order to get an hour of pool time twice a week. Nevertheless, the team remains steadfast in the face of adversity.
The relay team huddles to give each other words of encouragement before the race - Photograph taken by Larry Sang
For those in the stands, they were just records, but for the six girls on the relay teams, it was the payoff to months of tireless work and determination.
“I just started bawling,” says Kenzee Hampton, a junior, “I was so proud of all of the effort we had put into it and all the hard work finally paid off.”
Leading up to the relay, the girls met behind the diving blocks and embraced one another to give each other one last word of encouragement before the race.
“After we prayed, I remember the girls grabbing me by the shoulders and telling me to just give it everything I had,” says Hampton.
Before she began her race, Hampton expressed, “Once I was behind the blocks and the reality that this was our chance set in, I was so nervous that I almost started crying, but at the same time I trusted my girls completely and knew that we had put in the work and were more than capable.”
Kenzee Hampton in tears after finding out she broke the record - Photograph taken by Larry Sang
Haley Raburn, a senior on the team who broke the 200 medley and 400 free relay record, also explains, “When you're on a relay there’s people counting on you. It’s a lot of pressure, but once you dive in it just makes you swim faster.”
They did just that. Hampton recalls her swim stating, “I was just focusing on myself… I just remember telling myself to Kick! Kick! Kick! I knew the other girls on my relay were more than capable of getting the times they needed, so I just had to give it everything I had and finish strong.”
When the last leg of the relay reached the wall, the meet seemed to come to a halt as swimmers and spectators alike turned to the scoreboard holding their breath.
“We had this five second delay that felt like a million years. I was so scared, and my heart literally stopped,” says Hampton.
After the board updated and their time was revealed, the pool erupted in a frenzy of tears, hugs, and high fives. The girls were met with applause from the few parents who were able to attend, but due to COVID-19 many of the parents were forced to watch on a livestream through the coaches iPad.
“All the girls that I broke the records with are really close friends of mine that have been by my side through it all, and it was really cool and emotional to get to share this experience with them,” says Raburn.
Despite adversity, these girls have managed to swim times the OHS swim team has never seen before, and the journey isn’t over yet. These same relay teams are seconds away from breaking the yards relay records, and have a genuine chance of medaling at this year's state competition.
Coach Casey Stelzer wiping tears away after congratulating his athletes - Photograph taken by Larry Sang
In light of their success, the relay teams will leave their name and legacy behind on the record board for years to come.