Being part of a team can shape a student-athlete in ways that go far beyond the scoreboard. Senior Scarlett Berky ’26, a member of the Loomis Chaffee Swim Team, says her experience has been exactly that. 

“Having a bunch of friends who are my teammates is great,” Berky explained. “It takes off some of the pressure of competition. You also have a form of support with the team, and you have fun with it.” 

For Berky, the swim team isn’t just a group of people that she practices with—they’re constituents of a tightly knit community where encouragement and friendship are just as important as competition itself. Reflecting on her proudest accomplishments with the team, Berky emphasized the impact she’s had as a teammate and role model. “Being there for friends, or for people who need it… I think it’s helpful getting people out of that negative space. It’s something I’m proud of—being a role model on the team,” she explained. For her, success isn’t measured solely by times on the scoreboard; it’s also about uplifting others, fostering a positive environment, and helping teammates navigate both the physical and mental challenges of the sport. 

Being a student-athlete comes with its challenges, especially when trying to balance academics, athletics, and personal life. Berky credits the Loomis swim team and her coaches with helping her find balance amidst chaos. “Coaches are understanding with academics,” she said. “It helps me understand prioritizing. If I have a quiz that I’m worried about, I take a break, go to practice, and revisit that.” This combination of structure, support, and flexibility has allowed her to succeed both in the pool and in the classroom, giving her the tools to manage the demands of high school life effectively. 

When asked about what lessons—acquired from being part of the Loomis swim team—she would carry with her to college, Scarlett highlighted the importance of reminding others and herself about not being too competitive and hard on yourself. “I feel like people can get really caught up in their heads, especially in sports. So, I think that kind of casualness is something that is really important,” she said. 

When reflecting on her experiences on the swim team, Scarlett mentioned the people she will miss the most are her coach Liz Bucceri and her teammates. She expressed her appreciation for how great a coach Ms. Bucceri has been throughout her swimming career at Loomis. Scarlett also brought up her new freshman teammates who recently joined the team, and the disappointment of only having a year with them. A moment that really embodied Scarlett’s perspective of the swim team was having fun even when something unfortunate arose. “We got stuck in Florida last year during our training trip when we tried to come home, but we were able to kind of have fun as a team,” she commented. 

Lastly, when prompted to define her Loomis swim experience in 3 words, Scarlett chose the terms fun, enjoyable, and competitive. Even when practices and meets became intense, she was always able to find the fun and enjoyment of being able to do what she loved with her teammates. Throughout Scarlett’s journey on the Island, she has competed in numerous swim meets and made countless memories and relationships she will always cherish. She strives to bring the lessons she’s learned through the Loomis Chaffee swim team wherever she goes in the future.