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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
One of the very best things a senior can do in high school athletics is to leave a program in better shape than they found it. Cyclones Senior Cadie Digby and her fellow senior teammates are doing just that on multiple fronts. On Thursday morning, four Cyclone seniors participated in a unique fundraiser to bring in revenue for a $20,000 timing system. The 2.5-mile swim took place Thursday morning at Watauga Lake. Digby, the swim’s organizer, was accompanied by fellow swimmers Morgan Roszel, Sophia James, and Eva Helou. Several other teammates escorted these Cyclone swimmers as they swam from Butler Bridge to Watauga Point. They were Ella Edmonson, Layla Helou and Tyanna Hitechew. Coach Robyn Roszel and Drs. Rebecca Powers and Justin Digby, Cadie’s parents, helped guide and supervise the swim by boat.

Not only are these senior swimmers helping the program with their fundraising efforts, but they have also helped recruit swimmers and improve the level of competition. “The swim program is the fastest growing program at EHS right now with a competitive side to match. We won every meet last year against schools in our size division and had our first regional champion in a decade,” Digby shared. From her freshman year to her senior year, the program has grown from eight swimmers to a projected 30 this year. Senior Morgan Roszel has an offer to swim collegiately next year and the program’s brightest days, under the watchful eye of Cyclones EHS and TA Dugger head coach Kelli Broussard, are on the horizon. “We have some real heavy hitters coming up from the middle school the next couple of years,” Digby said.

As Digby reflects on her time as a Cyclone swimmer, she does so with an eye toward the future. “It’s pretty bittersweet to know I have one season left and I want to make it count in the best way possible. Having the facilities of a high performing group will help put us up there with the big dogs, competition wise,” Digby added. For Coach Broussard this class of seniors should expect big things this season but their mark on this program will linger for a long time. “The enthusiasm of this senior class, in particular, those that played a part in this open water swim, has been invaluable in spreading enthusiasm for the program and in recruiting new members. They will be missed after this season, but because of them, this year, we are looking forward to our most successful season yet,” Broussard exclaimed.

With high goals for this season and a foundation built for future classes, including a brand-new timing system, this will be a class of seniors whose contributions will echo for years to come! If you would like to make a donation and help the EHS Swim Team reach its fundraising goals, you can make your check payable to Elizabethton High School. Be sure to mark it for the EHS Swim Team. You can also stop by the EHS Athletic Office at 907 Jason Witten Way, Elizabethton, TN 37643. You can also bring your donations to the pool during Typhoons practice times on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 3-5:15 p.m.

The EHS Swim Team would like to say a special thank you to Fish Springs Marina for helping sponsor the event.