The RCHS swimming program is one that is sometimes overshadowed by basketball and wrestling, two other popular winter sports. Although, this program has had more success than it has been given credit for. The swim team has made it to states several times in recent years and has also had several regional wins. Occasionally, the program comes across someone who has thrived within the program and brought several accounts of success. An individual who has been representing this program for a long time is Senior Ali Pfaff. 

Pfaff’s swimming journey started when she was just four years old, and at the age of five she started competing year round. 

“I started swimming because my mom swam in college and because of the outdoor community pool that we had been going to every summer,” said Pfaff.

Since she was a kid, Pfaff’s goal has always been to make an Olympic cut. This would mean that she would have an event time fast enough to qualify for the Olympic trials. This long term goal became a short term reality when Pfaff originally made the qualifying time. After each Olympic year though, they lowered the qualifying times and unfortunately for Pfaff her original time was just not fast enough. Even though she was not able to make the time, Pfaff took this motivation and brought it with her to her highschool career. 

In the winter season of 2021-2022 Ali Pfaff won 2 state titles in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle as well as setting a new state record. This was the first ever swimming state title as an individual,one of few state titles for the RCHS athletics program. With her success during the highschool swim season and out of season, Pfaff gained the attention from big name swim schools such as Ohio State, Purdue, North Carolina State and Duke. Due to the large competition for these schools Pfaff had to make a decision during her Junior year. So on Oct. 22, 2021 Pfaff signed to the Duke Blue Devils on a swimming scholarship. 

“I am most excited for our team,” said Pfaff. As she goes into her Senior season, Pfaff hopes to achieve another state title and is optimistic for the 2022-2023 season.