She broke the 100 backstroke record in Munster Swim Club this season. She made Munster varsity swim her first season. She’s placed first in all of her individual races in the swim team’s first two meets.
And she is just a freshman.
Every dynasty has its season of rookies, and for the Munster swim team, freshman phenoms such as Lilly King have made a splash in the Seahorses’ early season.
Having been on the Munster Swim Club since 2018, the varsity players anticipated the introduction of King among her freshman peers for their high school debut. Since she began swim when she was only seven years old, King reflects on what drove her to swim.
“My mom used to swim, and she thought I would hate it. I came home with a flyer, signed up for the swim team, and ended up loving it,” King said. “I love swimming because I get to focus on my progress. Even though we’re all swimming in a team, you’re swimming for yourself in the pool.”
As a freshman, the swim team has helped ease King’s transition into high school. She notes one major difference between playing for club and school: spirit.
“One big difference in high school is that everyone’s up and cheering for us all the time,” King said. “I love leading cheers in Club, so when I hear everybody shouting for me, it just charges me to go faster.”
King placed first in 100 fly and 50 free individuals in her first meet against Crown Point. Head coach Matt Lee encourages his players to drive themselves.
“Before meets, coach tells us ‘brains off, gas on,’ and I think I sometimes take it too literally,” King said. “I’m not calm before my matches, but that fuels me. When I want to beat a time, I go for it. When I want to beat a personal best, I go for it. Competition drives me to do my best.”
Diving into Lilly King’s swim bag
