Dive in with Nia

FIll year’s only swimmer

By: Brylee Shafer

Early morning practices are one thing that most athletes dread. For sophomore Nia Fill, it’s normal. Fill, who has been swimming competitively for 10 years, wakes up for 5 am swim practice every day. In her dedication Fill is all alone, competing as the only DT swimmer this year on the high school swim team consolidated with GISH. Her dedication to her sport is unparalleled, for when she isn’t at school or working at the hospital, she’s in the pool working to shave even a fraction of a second off her time.

“It’s a lot of 2-a-days. The only days we take off are Sundays,” said Fill. 

Fill has been swimming for as long as she can remember. Her dad just threw her into a pool one day, and she’s been splashing around ever since. She began swimming competitively in elementary school on a club team, a hobby she shared with her older sister Ianna. 

“It takes a lot of determination and dedication to be part of a swim team,” said Fill. 

While club swimming might sound like a fun activity, it’s not all fun and games.  Fill practiced every day in the summer from 5-8 am. She broke many records, including the records for the 200 fly, 100 backstroke and 200 relay. It was during these early days that she developed her love of the sport and the people she met while competing. She even remembers one cold winter practice when it was snowing outside, and her club team “practiced” by diving into the snow and pretending to swim. 

In the beginning, Nia was sort of forced into swimming. She tried every other sport, but none of them stuck, so she and her sister decided to try swimming. She took to it like the preverbal fish to water, and hasn’t looked back.

"I am really glad that we decided to try swimming!” said Fill. 

Last year, Fill was a member of the varsity swim team as a freshman. Not only was she one of the youngest on the varsity team, but it was also very special for Nia because she qualified for state alongside her sister, Ianna. 

Today, Fill competes in a variety of events, including the 500 freestyle,100 backstroke, 100 fly and the A team relay. Her swim season is going very well, as she’s been placing at almost every meet, finding the most success in the 100 backstroke and 500 freestyle. Her favorite event is the 500 freestyle because it’s long. Most swimmers get tired during this race, but since Nia builds endurance at practice, she is able to stay swimming for that long of a race. 

FIll is continuing to put in hard work at practice and is excited for the rest of their season. She cannot wait to continue swimming throughout her high school career!

“I am only a sophomore right now, but someday I hope to swim in college out of state somewhere,” concluded Fill.