Wanting to see if he can improve his time in the 200 individual medley, senior and swimmer Derek Lair starts his practice on Jan. 26. Photo by Ashley Moore.

by Josh Philyaw

Swimming is not just a sport for senior Derek Lair; it’s a part of everyday life.

 “I love racing and pushing myself as hard as I possibly can,” Lair said. He has been swimming for three years at CMR — 10 years overall.

With his hard work and dedication he has accomplished many goals by himself and with the team. He has titles and state records with his team. He is a nationally ranked swimmer with only seconds off of Olympic times.

He said that he can swim the “200 individual medley in 1:53,” and his “freestyle in 45 seconds.”

“I feel really accomplished, but it also gives me something else to works towards,” Lair said. “I want to place high in the NCAA championships.”

Once he gets out of high school he is going to have more to work for, because he will be swimming in college.

“I signed with the University of Utah,” Lair said, “It’s definitely exciting. It’s a really good program. There are good coaches and swimmers; it should be awesome.”

As excited as he is to go swim at Utah, there are some things that he doesn’t want to leave behind.

“I wish it went a little slower,” Lair said of his high school swimming seasons, “The whole four team, one family thing that we have with Great Falls High.”

Lair has one piece of advice.

“Stay with it. Never let someone tell you that you can’t do something.”