New Bingham head swim coach Shauntel Banasky does. 

“I am so excited to work with this group this season,” Banasky said, who spent several seasons on Bingham’s staff before her promotion to the top position. “I have seen so much growth from them the last couple seasons. Each of them has progressed and swam faster each season.”

Thayne Millet, Jordan Rushton, Aidan England, Johnny Harwood, Chase Lowe, Will Alvord and Cohen Campbell will be back in Bingham blue for the boys. 

All of them watched Lincoln Hymas win two individual golds as a senior at the last 6A state championships at BYU, and several swam on Miners’ relay teams that touched the walls in sixth and eighth place at the Natatorium. All seem poised to do even more for a Bingham squad that is as deep as any in recent memory. 

On the girls side, Maddie Howell, Keeley Kuntz, Kennedy Schott, Halle Howard and Sarah Spallino are back, fresh off appearances on several relay teams that finished in fourth, fifth and seventh places at state. 

All 12 seniors will be led out by team manager Gianna, who returns for her second year in charge of all the little things that make a program tick. 

“Each of them brings a unique flair to the team, and I can't wait to see them use and develop their leadership skills as they lead our team,” Banasky said, who spent some of her time as an assistant last season helping Bingham’s Unified Team. “They will each have different responsibilities and swimmers to watch out for during the season.” 

This does not include several other new seniors that have said their plans are to try out for the Miners, according to the new head coach, when the rest of the team does in early October. 

“Tryouts aren't until October as the season officially starts October 20, but we've already been working together to find resources for better nutrition and mental health support,” Banasky said. “A few of them attended a leadership clinic put on by the district over the summer.” 

That leadership the Miners have been learning has carried over in a big way, according to Halle Howard, a senior. 

“My favorite part of this Bingham team is how great everyone gets along like family and how we motivate each other.” Howard said, who is in her second season of swimming at Bingham—and swimming, period. 

Her advice to aspiring swimmers? 

“Learn from both your successes and failures,” Howard said. 

For Maddie Howell, a competitive swimmer for 10 years who first took to the water at age 1, her goal is to make it to state in her final year of high school, drop her time and pump up the team. 

As for Thayne Millet, who was on Bingham’s boys’ relay teams at state and qualified individually in the butterfly at BYU last spring, he borrows from this writer’s personal favorite: one Ricky Bobby. 

"’Don't be last.’ You might not be first, but work your hardest to never get last,” Millet said. “Secondly, just do the work. It's going to be tough, and sometimes it might feel like a bit much, but don't get lazy. There's only so much time you have.”

As a senior, time goes by so fast. This fact certainly hasn’t escaped Banasky, who in year one has her seniors doing everything possible to personalize their final experiences before they hop in the water. 

“We have been busy designing a logo for our swim caps and choosing this season’s swimsuit. A lot of work goes into the team long before tryouts,” Banasky said. “It has been fun watching them each step up and accept responsibility for the team. I can't wait to officially get started and see the progress this season brings this group!”