What do you get when you mix a prankster, a military kid, a quiet soul and laid back laugher together? Well for Carl Albert, you get the best relay swim team the school has seen to date. Jaedon Roe, Tim Hyland, Alex Lawrence and Sidney White make up the record setting Carl Albert boy’s relay team, and even though they couldn’t seem any different, they fit together like a glove.

“I think we just really, really, really want to win,” said Hyland.

It seems like a simple response, but it speaks volumes of what they are focused on at all times. This relay team has a goal. That goal is for this unit to place top three in state by years end.

Winning is the first thing brought up and it’s no surprise Hyland voiced the opinion. Hyland, 18, leads the bunch, although he’d never tell you that. He’s nearly the first one to speak on any subject when you talk to the kids and if the group needs to have its focus readjusted, he’s the guy up for the job.

“Definitely Tim, just his entire life he’s been scared to get in trouble,” said Roe of why Hyland keeps the group in line.

Hyland doesn’t agree on that point. The product of a military mom and dad, Tim points to the structure put in place by his parents to why he can be more serious at times, but made sure to add that he is not scared of getting in trouble.

If Hyland’s the team’s conscious, Roe, 17, is the group’s funny bone if you couldn’t tell by his description of Hyland. Roe has been known to keep the group loose with a prank or two. Just don’t ask him about it.

“Nothing, I can share. I just can’t put it out there,” said Roe of his pranks.

A partner in the laughs is Sidney White, 17. White, clearly the most laid back and easy going of the group, seems to just be enjoying the ride. He immediately brings up passion and family if you ask about why he loves swimming, and of course there’s the fun.

“I just laugh a lot, “said White chuckling when asked about his role in the group.

Last but certainly not least is the little brother of the team, Alex Lawrence. Lawrence, 15, doesn’t usually have a lot to say, but don’t be fooled by his limited talking or being the youngest; he’s the team’s emotional center.

“Since he starts off our relay and he’s so young and energetic, it just gets me pumped and that goes to everyone else on the team,” said Roe of Lawrence’s energy.

Hyland echoed Roe’s sentiment saying Lawrence starts the fire because he’s usually killing the first leg of the team’s relay, which gets everyone excited, like a domino effect.

But, it’s not just a hunger to win and their personalities meshing together that make them a force in the water. They also have the skills provided by a varied swimming background. 

For instance, Lawrence has been swimming the longest even though he’s the youngest of the group. He’s been honing his craft in the water since elementary school. He brings that energy to get the group off to a good start by leading off with the backstroke for the team.

Roe swims the leg after Lawrence with the breaststroke. Roe’s a bit of a prodigy. A year ago, he was a life guard who just use to goof around in the pool before his friends suggested he make it more than just a fun showing in his off time. A year later, he’s been wowing his teammates at every turn.

“I look up to Jaedon. He’s only been swimming a year and he’s already faster than me,” said Hyland.

Hyland swims the next leg of the relay with the butterfly. He’s been swimming for four years now, but sports haven’t always been his thing. In fact, he took a break from sports because he didn’t excel at any. When his parents encouraged him to get back into being active, he chose swimming and never looked back.

White, who swims freestyle as the anchor (finishes the race) for the group, has a similar story. He’s been swimming four years after turning a good work out into a full-time passion because he loves the family atmosphere.

They each have their own background and even their own home life as they don’t get much time to hang out outside of the pool.

“We each live varied lives,” said Hyland of why there’s no time to hang out after pointing out White lives in Edmond and Roe has taken to riding around in his new car.

Still, one goal bonds this group like a band of brothers, and they feel like its unfinished business from last year where it all went tragically wrong. Roe takes responsibility for the group’s missed opportunity even though he wasn’t on the relay team yet.

Roe missed his individual event causing a member of the relay team that has since graduated to go looking for him and miss an individual event of his own, which disqualified him from participating in the relay.

But, Roe and his team have every motivation to right that wrong. However, they’re all on the clock. Although Lawrence is a sophomore, the other three members are seniors and feel the pressure of their best and only shot at placing at state, but even Lawrence is aware of the moment.

“Next year we’ll have no seniors so this might be our best year yet as far as relays,” said Lawrence.

But, the group is getting better every day and breaking records as a team and individually every week. They’ve already officially broken the school records in their two relays, the 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestlye. Yet, they feel there is still more work to get to their goal.

“We still have a lot of little stuff to work on,” said Hyland. “We all could be better off turns and quicker off starts.”

And, that’s what makes them a great unit. Friendship and hard work are the two staples of this team, but it’s the varied styles and personalities that mix the two together perfectly.