Southeast students create winning waves with inclusive swimming program

February 4, 2026

Southeast High School students are splashing into successful waters this season by participating in a reintroduced inclusive swimming program.
 
Athletes and peer helpers from all four grade levels are partnering together for happy memories in the pool. Peers develop leadership skills through mentorship roles, and athletes gain confidence by learning swimming techniques. Peers and athletes work together in practice and cheer each other on during meets.
 
Eleanor, Maria, Mason, Joshua, Gabby, Mason, Brody, Steven, William, Reece, Sophi, Stella, Birgen, Alex, Scott, Holly and Lida are on this season’s team. Mason, a senior with the Knights, said he has enjoyed the fellowship he has found with the program.
 
“My favorite thing is seeing all my friends and swimming,” Mason said. “Learning how to swim better.”

Members of Southeast High School's inclusive swimming program put their hands together in a circle for a team cheer at the end of practice. They are standing in their swimsuits next to the high school's indoor swimming pool.

Three members of Southeast's inclusive swimming program cheer for their teammates on the side of the pool. Two swimmers have towels over them to dry off after coming out of the pool.
 
Sophi was instrumental in reviving the program, which first began in the 2016-17 season and ran until 2021. The senior remembered when the inclusive team participated in her older brother’s swim meets many years ago, and she felt it was important to explore offering it again. She received enthusiastic responses from coaches and teammates when she shared her idea.
 
“I knew that we had a lot of people who would be great at helping out and would be fully supportive,” Sophi said. “I’m also in unified P.E. and knew how much the athletes loved their other sports, and I thought it would be so much fun to get this one started again.”

Southeast senior Sophi shakes hands with her coach as part of Senior Night activities. She was instrumental in reviving Southeast's inclusive swimming program.
 
The inclusive swimming program is part of a growing number of ways that Southeast students are feeling a sense of belonging. The school currently sponsors unified choir, physical education, bowling, track and field, Student Council and Community of Learners activities. The Special Olympics Nebraska organization honored Southeast in 2022 with a Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools designation.
 
Southeast teacher John Aylward said he was excited when he learned the inclusive swimming program would become a reality. He oversees inclusive practices and leads many athletes in his daily classrooms.
 
“Just seeing the kids and how they have embraced challenges has been the most rewarding part for us as their teachers,” Aylward said. “Several of the kids have had to get over the fear of the deep end of the pool, and that is just one of those things. That’s a good life lesson that athletics is able to teach to these students. It’s a lesson that they get to learn outside the classroom that there are things in life, and if they make it a mountain it’s going to be hard to climb. But, if they do just a little bit at a time, then you know they can accomplish big things. And so I’ve seen that joy in the kids.”

A member of Southeast's inclusive swimming team moves through the water during a race in the high school pool.

A member of Southeast High School's inclusive swimming team smiles as she looks up from the edge of an indoor swimming pool. She is receiving encouragement from a teammate about her progress in the pool.
 
Aylward informed students in his class about the inclusive swimming opportunity the day after Sophi’s idea was approved. Families secured swimsuits and goggles for ten athletes who were interested in stepping into the pool, and Aylward and other leaders like Sophi began teaching them this fall.
 
“I was hoping that a lot of them would do swimming,” Aylward said. “I thought it might be a skill or something in their life that they might be able to learn and be able to add on to the things that make them who they are, and it would make them feel confident and good about the things that they’re able to do.”
 
Sophi and fellow peer helpers like Scott have also benefited from their experiences. During one practice this winter, Scott encouraged several athletes with their swimming strokes as he walked along the pool’s edge. They smiled as they continued moving through the water.
 
“Inclusive swim has helped me become a better leader because I have learned new communication skills among the other peers and among the athletes as well,” Scott said. “You have to know when one of the athletes is uncomfortable, but you also have to know when they are working hard and willing to keep going. Among the peers, you have to be able to go with the flow. Each person is going to see different things to point out and different personal experiences with the specific athletes or in general.”

Three members of Southeast's inclusive swimming team cheer for one of their fellow Knights who has just finished his race in the pool.

From left, Southeast High School swimmers Alex and Joshua smile in the water during a practice this winter. Alex has both of her hands on the side of the pool, and Joshua is wearing swimming goggles and has his hands and legs next to the side of the pool. More than a dozen Knights are participating in the school's inclusive swimming program this year.
 
The peers are also polishing their teamwork skills. They create daily practice schedules and share thoughts about different drills to teach athletes. They also guide the Knights in their 50-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle relay events at each meet.
 
“We work together to come up with ideas and decide the best ways to run a practice,” Sophi said. “It’s great seeing everyone’s leadership potential and seeing that shine through.”
 
Sophi said she has enjoyed watching athletes become more self-assured in the pool. Their contented feelings have crested during their races in front of fans. They have created winning waves in front of cheering Southeast supporters.
 
“They work super hard during their practices, and it’s great to see their hard work pay off and see them just get to swim for fun and see how fast they can go,” Sophi said. “It’s just really rewarding in the sense of helping to see them all improve.”
 
Scott said helping with inclusive and unified school activities has been life-changing. He said he would carry those lessons with him far beyond his time in Southeast’s hallways.
 
“I have really grown to love the unified community and wouldn’t be the same person that I am today without it,” Scott said. “It is important that people know that they are the same as you and me. We are all people and we all deserve the same kind of love and care from each other.”
 
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Published: February 4, 2026, Updated: February 4, 2026

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Southeast High School students Alex and Joshua smile in the water during a practice this winter. More than a dozen Knights are participating in the school's inclusive swimming program. It is part of a growing number of ways that Southeast students are feeling a sense of belonging.