The Bison swimming and diving team has started their season strong, with the girls team taking the overall meet victory on Dec. 8 against Warren JFK and Walsh Jesuit.

The boys team also beat Orange on Dec. 12, with the girls outscoring Laurel but falling to Beaumont and Orange. Combined, the team won 14 events.

The team is led by a group of 11 seniors who stand out not only for their talent but also for their consistency as a community over many years.

These swimmers have built strong relationships through countless hours of grueling practice before and after school.

Coach Brad Burget highlights just how close the bond is between these swimmers. 

“95% of them have been swimming together before middle school,” he said. 

Collectively, they managed to rewrite every middle school record and are in line to do the same at BHS, as there are just a few more remaining. 

Burget also highlights how the seniors motivate one another. 

“The team’s leadership is more of a work ethic by committee, which has been made from the years of trust and persistence,” he said.

Among these seniors are Colin Elwell, Derek Fan and Ben Keyerleber, who have achieved individual awards including All-Conference, District medalists and All-Ohio performers. 

These three have propelled the boys team to a CVC conference title, having finished top-three at districts and a fourth-place showing at States last season. 

Nonetheless, these astonishing accomplishments make up only a fraction of the group’s journey as a team. According to Burget, this 2026 senior swimming and diving class has shaped the overall culture and quality of the Beachwood swimming and diving program.

Derek Fan, who is coming into the season eager to achieve a state title in the 100 fly, explains how his determination stems from unfinished business. His motivation for this year is also personal.

“I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder… my past experiences of coming up short keep me on track,” Fan said. “This season is special since it’s my last year competing with my close friends.”

Captains Ben Keyerleber and Colin Elwell reflect similar objectives for themselves and the team as a whole. They felt that their leadership role came rather naturally, almost something they felt would have to happen. 

“I’ve been swimming with the same people for the past eight years, so being ‘captain’ hasn’t really changed much,” Elwell said. “I’ve always worked hard in the water and people look up to that.” 

Elwell broke the first team record of the season in the 100 free 47.75 on Dec. 12.

Similarly, Keyerleber recounts his feelings towards his captainship through perseverance, as he recalls spending this past summer and other times in his career recovering from injuries, refusing to let the setbacks tear down his momentum.

“I want my teammates to remember me as the swimmer who stayed consistent and led by example,” Keyerleber said. 

Both of these senior captains have huge goals for the team: district titles, relay podiums and a big run at the state championships. 

The influence of these 11 seniors is clear to the underclassmen as well.

Sophomore Micah Port emphasizes that the seniors are role models to him.

“The seniors this year have always been a major source of inspiration for me for as long as I’ve been training with them,” he said.

This is likely to be a banner year for the boys team, as they strive to climb higher on the podium than ever before at States while also attempting to break long-standing records. 

Meanwhile, the girls team—which has been much smaller than the boys team in recent years—seems poised to come into its own as a competitive force. 

“The goal is to have a consistent top-10 state-level program for both genders,” Burget said.

He feels that this is attainable due to the foundation that the seniors have built over time.