The DeKalb-Sycamore boys swimming team has an edge going into the season, a coach who’s been through the trials of a COVID season before.

Coach Melanie Chambers experienced the COVID protocols in the fall when she coached the girls’ team and has a plan ready to go.

“I’m super comfortable,” Chambers said. “With the girls I felt like every day was new because I had to figure out something new or adjust something. With the boys, I at least came in and felt like we had a good plan.”

The plan included Zoom calls, individual swimming at the YMCA, and a hard first week of practice once they were allowed back as a team.

“All through our remote pause, we worked out together on Zoom two days a week and then I sent them six swimming workouts a week that they were doing at the Y on their own,” Chambers said. “When we came back I just hammered them hard that first week, but a lot of them had some endurance. I think we’re in a really good spot. I’m really proud of where they’re at. "

The calls also offered Chambers an opportunity to check in with the team as individuals and students.

“At least that gave me two times a week to check in with them and say ‘how is school going, how are you doing mentally and emotionally, and how is swimming going?’”

The strength of this team is the senior class. Three seniors - Anthony Biundo, Timothy Braun and Donny Gramer - have signed to swim collegiately, form the top of the roster.

“I want to push the team and make everybody better than they were at the start of the year,” Gramer said. “Whether it’s your first year or your 10th year swimming, I just want everyone to reach a new level.”

One of the new swimmers Gramer is pushing this year is his younger brother, freshman Jacob Gramer, who has stood out early in practice.

“I think it’s cool that we can swim together,” Jacob Gramer said. “It’s a good competition. We support each other.”

The younger Gramer is one of many freshmen who have made an impact early.

“We’ve got quite a few freshmen who came in from the club team that I am really excited to see how they do,” Chambers said. “I think that they’re going to help add a lot of depth to our varsity lineup.”

That depth has Chambers excited for the season.

“I just did our first meet lineup for Thursday and I came in today and I was so excited to be able to put in a lineup where we have three strong people in every event.”

The team is ready to start the new season, but they also have an appreciation for competing and being together that they didn’t have before this year.

“We took a really long break and it was terrible, not swimming and staying at home,” Biundo said. “So coming back is really fun and seeing all the guys.”