Most would not dare to take on two sports, let alone play them on the same team. This is exactly what captain Tyler Patchkofsky did for the past three swim seasons. 

Starting in his sophomore year, Patchkofsky decided to try out for the basketball team. However, after not making the team, he took a short walk down the hallway to the pool. It was here that he took to the diving board and never looked back. 

In addition to trying the new sport of diving, he also reconnected with his swimming past from 6th grade. 

“I started swimming when I was in sixth grade and quit halfway through seventh grade since I thought it was too hard and I didn’t have what it took,” Patchkofsky explained. “I later rejoined in my sophomore year of high school, that was my first time diving, and since then I’ve stayed on the team.” 

Now, as a senior and a captain, he has mastered the art of balancing both swimming and diving while competing for the Hawks swim team. Patchkofsky can be found competing in multiple swimming events as well as diving. 

“My individual events I compete for are diving and the 100-yard backstroke, while my main relays are the 200 medley, where I lead off in the 50-yard backstroke, and the 400 freestyle relay,” said Patchkofsky. 

While he thoroughly enjoys both the sports and the competition, it comes with certain challenges. He must maintain good physical and mental health to be able to make it through the long three-month season, where his peak performance must come towards the end of the season with Naugatuck Valley League (NVL) championships and state championships. 

“My biggest challenge I faced as a swimmer is the physical work and toll it has on your body,” said Patchkofsky. 

Patchkofsky also had a sense of disconnect with his teammates because he would be on the board while they were swimming the majority of the time, and he would not be in the water as often as them. 

“It wasn’t until I competed in states for both diving and swimming during my second year that I was actually given respect from my teammates,” Patchkofsky explained. 

This year, as captain, he recognizes that they have a smaller team but does not want that to hold them back from reaching their full potential. He hopes to bring everyone together to have the most successful season possible. 

“I hope to reach out to new minds and start to build this team again for the future,” stated Patchkofsky. “I don’t think we will be able to do as much as we did last year due to our small team size, and I don’t want the swimmers of next year to be held back because of the same restraints.”

Photo by: Legacy Studios