Colby Sizer started swimming at the ripe age of five. It was basically her birthright to earn the title of swim captain; Her commitment is an unstoppable obsession. 

She first joined the Oxford Otters before moving on to several other teams. Sizer has swum for over a decade, spending more than half her life in the pool. 

“That’s scary to say out loud,” Sizer said.

Sizer started her journey with Oxford Otters and then moved to Southington Rays, trying lots of clubs to find the perfect fit. Joining different clubs offers valuable experience, such as adjusting to new coaches and pools builds adaptability that others may lack.

“Having a positive attitude both in the pool and out of the pool is super important,” Sizer said. “It’s very hard to stay motivated, especially through long practices.”

Twelve years in the water helped her understand the truth about leadership and how to keep a positive mindset during difficult times. Having fun and cheering for everyone is a key to success. Even when people are down, she makes sure to reassure them that they are doing an amazing job and have great value to the team, even when someone might feel otherwise.

With a positive mindset, you’re able to see everything as a good memory, even if it’s filled with sadness or anger; there is always a bright side to it. Sizer’s favorite memory was filled with anticipation and adrenaline. When the girls’ swim team lost to Seymour, they knew they had to win at NVLs to stay in contention. Sizer was determined to make that happen.

“I was really, really scared that was gonna be our year we lost the title, and I was absolutely horrified that that was gonna happen,” Sizer said. “Winning that meet felt so special, like knowing that all the girls around me worked so hard for that, including myself; it felt so good.”