Gliding through the water, only coming up for a few breaths, Nick Gess, senior, has spent life in the water. This Highlander has earned his gills, spending his time practicing swimming every day.

Gess started swimming as a young teenager. A family shared sport, Gess took on swimming alongside his sister and father. Since then, he has spent each day in the water, practicing for about 16 hours each week. “Nick is in the water a lot. He practices all the time,” Joshua Churchill, fellow swimmer, explained.

Gess swims for the Homestead boys swim team but also swims for Schroeder, his club team. With Homestead and Schroeder, Gess generally swims freestyle, sticking with the 50m, 100m, and 200m distances. “Nick is a great teammate and a really good swimmer,” Eric Mullins, sophomore, said.

The thrill of the race keeps this Highlander swimming. Though he admits he loves it for the  competition, Gess likes “the fact that you can’t do things half way or else you’ll really never get better. You always have to push yourself 100 percent of the time if you are looking for good results.”

For the future, Gess has been debating between going to college or to the Marines. Gess has received offers from college swimming programs and is currently looking at Hartwick in New York and Carthage in Kenosha. If Gess decides on the Marines, he hopes “to qualify for something with swimming”. Whether he decides college or the marines, Gess plans on keeping swimming a part of his life.

Gess would one day like to qualify for the National Collegiate Athletic Association if he decides to go to college. As for this season at Homestead, his goal is to qualify for state and to perform well. He hopes that he will make YMCA Nationals and USA Swimming Sectionals for his club season.

By dedicating time and hard work, Gess explained, “I learned that I can push myself past what I thought was possible. I have learned to stay strong even when you are tired and ready to give up.”

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