AURORA – Assistant coach Misty O’Connell walked around the pool deck offering cupcakes Thursday morning as the second Rosary swimming practice of the season counted down.

The magic pill behind a program with four straight IHSA state titles and top five finishes in each of the past dozen years lies deeper than the cupcakes, though there is some revelation beneath the glaze.

When a would-be sneaky swimmer began chowing down on one of the treats, Beads coach Bill Schalz ordered an extra 100 meters to the set she already was doing. Examples of broken training usually aren’t this apparent, but they’re still corrected with a reminder of the Rosary way.

“Back in the day, we had a couple lanes that couldn’t even swim a 25 hardly,” said O’Connell, who was Misty Laurich when Rosary took third at state in 1994. “They were very basic, novice swimmers. Now, our Lane 8, they’re already doing what one of our better lanes would have been back in the past. Everybody’s swimming just fine. There are no stragglers whatsoever.”

That last part sounds like the makings of a banner, something swimmers as successful as Rosary’s would spot on a wall before beginning practice every day.

There’s nothing to see here at the Marmion pool, which also houses Schalz’ alma mater Cadets during the boys winter season. Instead, it’s a mindset ingrained in every Bead’s head in the color and style of her liking.

“Bill has high expectations for us,” senior Emily Launer said, “but it’s only for us to do our best and to fulfill our full potential.”

Most Rosary swimmers did not compete on an offseason club team when Schalz took the program over from mentor Jim Kelly in 1990.

These days, it’s an unwritten prerequisite, whether athletes compete for Schalz’ Aurora-based Academy Bullets or another squad.

Each fall, swimmers meet with Schalz to discuss ultra-specific goals for the season and beyond. The girls are reminded that there’s life well beyond the IHSA meet around Thanksgiving. They should also be focused on certain splits, times and rankings in their bids to excel in national club events year-round.

“If they’re doing that, they’re getting better and I get a better swimmer next fall,” Schalz said.

Schalz certainly appreciated the trio that graduated in the spring. Diana Norkus (Kentucky) Mackenzie Powers (Penn State) and Olivia Scott (Auburn) each earned NCAA Division I scholarships en route to helping Rosary become just the fourth IHSA program to win four successive state titles.

Returners such as Launer, Rachel Burke and Sarah Sykstus have equally been part of the fun in recent years, and promising junior Molly Coonce, a transfer from Iowa, is expected to be a key contributor, too.

“Even in years past when we were winning trophies but weren’t winning titles, there was an attitude that we’d get fifth and they’d be [ticked],” Schalz said. “The girls would just be upset about that.”

Chocolate cupcakes are the enemy now, at least until practice is over.

“When you’re with the girls at practice here, it’s motivating, empowering, it makes you want to swim,” Launer said. “It makes you want to do your best and improve for our team.”