SouthLake excels with team-first spirit

Coach Gary Anderson and his SouthLake Christian swimmers say they are like a family.

While a lot of high school teams rely on standout club swimmers, the Eagles’ girls excel with a team effort that hinges on their overall talent.

“Most teams depend on a few superstars,” said Anderson. “We really count on every girl to contribute. Our depth, leadership and team focus is all a big part of cultivating our success, year after year. We are known all over the state as one of the best teams. It’s kind of hard to believe it has all happened so fast.”

Seniors Moriah Anderson, Cassie Behling and Taylor Rock lead the SouthLake girls, which look to make history with their fifth straight Metrolina Athletic Conference title in the team’s six-year existence.

“What makes these girls stand out as leaders is they are always willing to step in and do what is best for the team,” said Gary Anderson.

The senior trio has not led their team to an undefeated record in the last two regular seasons and a state runner-up finish in 2011.

The Eagles’ senior class has been a key to the foundation of the program.

Behling, 17, is the only swimmer who has been a part of the team since the start, having swum for the Eagles since seventh grade. The NCISAA allows middle-schoolers to participate in varsity sports.

“I’ve really enjoyed growing up with the team and watching it evolve from a couple of swimmers to now,” Behling said. “Now that I am a senior and captain, I feel like I can help the younger girls because I know how they feel, because I used to be one of them. That is what this team is all about.”

Behling personifies that “team-first” mentality of the Eagles. She volunteered to swim the 500-yard freestyle event, which requires 20 laps of competition, not because it was her event but because she knew she could help her score more points.

Moriah Anderson – Gary Anderson’s and Eagle assistant coach Paula Anderson’s daughter – and Rock have also been major parts of the SouthLake swimming program since its infancy.

Rock, 17, swims the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke while anchoring the 400-freestyle relay team that finished second in the MAC last year.

Anderson, 17, holds the school record in the 50 butterfly (part of medley relay) and finished top five at the MAC championships in four different events (50 free, 100 breaststroke, 200-medley relay and 200-free relay).

While both girls have experience in the pool, also coaching at SwimMAC’s swim school, they are most proud to be leaders for their SouthLake Christian team.

“It’s just something different to represent your high school team and be a part of something for your school,” Rock said. “It’s great to have people who really care about you. You don’t see that on every swim team.”

Moriah Anderson has similar feelings.

“Swimming has been a part of my life ever since I can remember, as a sport, as a job and a family thing, too.” She said. “But SouthLake Christian swimming is just a special thing. High school swimming has always been my favorite.”

The trio hope to write the final chapter of their SouthLake Christian careers with a conference title and more.

But no matter what happens in the end, each girl also has big plans for their future outside of the pool.

Anderson hopes to go to Duke to study to be a pediatric ophthalmology medical assistant. Behling hopes to go to College of Charleston or High Point University to major in psychology and hospitality management, while Rock wants to attend either Appalachian State, UNC Greensboro or UNC Chapel Hill to study speech therapy.

Regardless of where they end up, they will not easily forget where they came from.

“They might not be going on to swim in college and beyond,” said Gary Anderson. “But I think what they done and what they have learned here will serve well no matter what they do for the rest of their lives.”