Success does not come cheap. Senior Nick LaChapelle understands this more than most. As captain of the boy’s swim team, LaChapelle has dove into the role with confidence and determination, sinking the fears of the underclassmen.

“I am going to miss probably everything about swim,” said LaChapelle. “It usually takes about two weeks for everyone to start clicking, and once we get into that, we just go from there. It has been a really good team this year and I am definitely going to miss all the guys that I have met this year.”

But it has not always been swimming for him either. In fact, LaChapelle has dabbled in a lot of different sports, and ultimately dove into the opportunity of a lifetime after a tough break.

“So, actually my main sport was track–well, running– and I had a shin problem. I had to get surgery on my shins, and I could not sit still in the winter. I had to do a sport. I chose swim because it seemed like it was the hardest. I wanted the challenge, and I was up for the challenge, and it has been great ever since.”

So, to the challenge LaChapelle rose, helping the team win back to back Naugatuck Valley League titles. A sport with such challenge and discipline definitely helped LaChapelle in his school and personal life.

“It has definitely taught me a lot of lessons. It has made a lot of other work much easier, just because the workload is such an incredible amount,” said LaChapelle. “It helps me balance my school work because I have to get my school work done in order to swim. It definitely helps to be a student athlete. I have learned how to deal with kids that I am not really familiar with, and I have also learned that everybody is different, and that they all need to be treated a little differently.”

A good captain knows that the best things to leave for his teammates are standards, morals, and knowledge. LaChapelle noted the main factor that he wants his teammates to keep with them, even after he leaves.

“I just want to leave behind the idea that it is team first and to always focus on the team. It is best to try to motivate others when you can because during a practice it is really easy to just go off task, so I just want to make sure that everybody is motivating each other because that is what is going to get us the win.”

A lot of this motivational tactic plays into the work ethics of the boys. This type of thought process is something that LaChapelle has learned from his coach, Brendan Heller.

“I think we have a lot of comradery and our coach really pushes us to do the best everyday, and that leads us to our motivation and leads to a lot of good vibes.”

The Woodland boy’s swim team has a lot of which to be proud of. The work ethic and willpower that they have, along with the guidance of LaChapelle, helps them to glide straight into victory.