Fayette Creek: The joint Sandy Creek–Fayette County swim team building community and champions

When the swimmers from Sandy Creek High School and Fayette County High School gather at the edge of the pool, they don’t shout their own school names. They raise their voices together in a single call—“Fayette Creek!”—the identity they’ve built as two rival schools turned one unified team. What began as a practical collaboration between two small programs has grown into something far more rare in high school sports: a merged team that trains together, travels together, and cheers for each other with a loyalty that dissolves school lines entirely.

Today, “Fayette Creek” means family.

Two rivals, one lane

The partnership began several seasons ago when Coach Lori Tideback at Fayette County High School inherited a tiny swim roster and reached out to Coach Janene Beane, who had led Sandy Creek’s team for years. Both women teach special education. Both believe sports should build character, not pressure.

And both knew they had stronger swimmers—better people, even—if they worked together.

“I didn’t really have any direction about anything,” Tideback said of her first season. “Coach Beane was amazing to take me under her wing and kind of help me get started. And we just were like, ‘You know what? I bet you this could be something we could do.’”

The combined-training concept took hold four years ago and solidified into a full joint identity three years ago.

The irony still makes Tideback laugh.

“Sandy Creek and Fayette County are probably some of the biggest rivals in other sports,” she said. “When it comes to swim, we have been able to break down that barrier of school rivalry and look at it at a different angle.”

The students embraced it immediately. With tiny rosters at both schools, they suddenly had enough teammates to create energy, depth, and shared accountability.

“They don’t know the difference,” Beane said. “We all practice together… We actually call ourselves Fayette Creek.”

A culture built on 1% better

Neither coach measures success by medals alone.

“Our form of success is you need to be 1% better than you were the week before, or the day before,” Beane explained. “As long as you’re improving your time… as long as you’re helping each other, that is success.”

The swimmers have internalized that philosophy so deeply that they hold each other accountable—no school labels required.

“The kids in the lanes will hold each other accountable,” Tideback said. “They work so hard to be not competitors against each other, but to be teammates. And what’s the word I’m trying to get to… it’s character building.”

Consequences reinforce that mindset, too.

“We hold them to a higher level,” Beane said. “If you’re missing assignments or you’re doing this, you’re going to be swimming laps.”

That accountability bonds the swimmers even more closely. They look out for each other, encourage each other, and celebrate the tiniest improvement.

“They get a rubber duck when they drop a time,” said parent Angela Kemp, who has three children in the program. “Even if it’s like one second more… they’re celebrated. It’s made to be like this major thing.”

Her daughter Thya, an 11th grader at Fayette County, said the environment feels like an escape from the pressures of regular life.

“It’s calm, relaxing,” she said. “We all work together. We all communicate very well… It’s just a lot of fun.”

And the friendships outlast the season.

“I still talk with kids that graduated,” Thya added. “We’re best friends… it’s pretty consistent.”

Encouragement written on their skin

One of Angela Kemp’s favorite parts of the program is the visible encouragement swimmers write—and draw—on one another before meets.

“They draw on each other,” she said. “Not just their event numbers, but little encouragement words on their arms and backs. I got a picture of one of our Fayette County High girls getting drawn on by one of the Sandy Creek girls, because they’re just… that’s just what they do.”

Swimmers cross school lines without thinking twice about it.

“They don’t see each other as separate at all,” Angela said. “They just see each other as one.”

Two coaches, one heartbeat

The coaches’ chemistry anchors the team’s entire culture.

“We’re like peanut butter and jelly,” Beane said. “We go together. We know what each other’s thinking.”

Their shared background in special education informs how they teach athletes to handle both success and struggle.

“At some point in time, these kids are going to walk out these four doors,” Tideback said. “I want to make sure that… they’ve been equipped to be able to handle what’s outside those doors. And the best way to do that is through sports and athletics and life lessons.”

When swimmers arrive late, skip practice, or fall behind in class, there’s a consequence—and it’s the same one life gives: work.

“You didn’t tell me you were going to be late? You missed practice?” Tideback said. “Guess what? This is what you’ve gotta do.”

And with swimmers from two different schools, the accountability reaches even farther.

“They appreciate each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” Beane said. “They help each other build up on their weaknesses to make them better.”

Even travel days model unity—and practicality. The team travels together on one bus, saving the county money and strengthening relationships across schools.

“We ride the bus together,” Beane said. “We’re actually saving the county money because we’re not taking two separate buses.”

Parents feel the unity too.

“We do a joint banquet,” Beane said. “The parents become friends… the siblings become part of the family.”

A champion among them

While the program prides itself on inclusivity and growth, Fayette Creek also produces elite athletes.

Sandy Creek senior Jack Jung is the clearest example. Last season, he became the only swimmer in the entire county—across all five high schools—to win a state championship. He claimed gold in the 500 freestyle and is already qualified for state again this year.

“Jack… has been a role model,” Beane said. “He takes his expertise to help others, to improve them.”

Tideback often uses him as a pacer in practice.

“They like to swim against him to gauge themselves,” she said. “He’s got a work ethic of a horse. He swims four hours in the afternoon… four or five days a week.”

This year, Jung is exploring colleges nationwide, with options to swim or focus on academics.

An uncommon kind of team

The Fayette Creek roster includes about 19 swimmers—a mix of grades, schools, and backgrounds. Rivalry exists in name only.

“We’re showing these kids you don’t have to have that rivalry mentality,” Beane said. “They love to be around each other.”

Tideback sees the same every day.

“These kids own up to being family,” she said. “It’s not about me. It’s not about Fayette County High School. It’s not about Sandy Creek. It’s about us.”

Or, as she often tells them:

“You can break down barriers and still be kind.”

Looking ahead

The season continues through January, with the county meet mid-month and state competition shortly after. Jung is guaranteed to swim at state; several teammates are close.

Whatever the medals reveal, the coaches believe the team has already achieved something far greater.

“These kids own up to that—they are family,” Tideback said. “This is what we do for us.”

And before each meet, when the swimmers gather together in their team huddle, they often shout one of two words — “family” or “Fayette Creek.”

Both mean the same thing to them.