EDITOR’S NOTE: The 2012 graduates of the Twin Lakes Thunder Bolts swim team have stuck together for more than a decade. This team has broken many pool and DeKalb County summer swim league records. The following is Part 2 of 7 in a series of features about these accomplished swimmers.

It may not have been love at first sight, but Garrett Stanley realized after a while that swimming was something he truly enjoys.

Stanley, a Lakeside graduate headed to St. John’s University in the fall, said when he started winning races with his teammates is when he found that love for the sport of swimming.

“When I was 7, my dad forced me to swim,” Stanley said. “I started to get good at it around 9 or 10 when I was doing year-round swimming. I started to love it because I was winning.”

Stanley said winning at pool races was one thing, but winning at county meets was what was really exciting for him.

“I just love the environment here at Twin Lakes and of course, I love winning,” Stanley said.

Stanley said there may be a lot of fast movement and loneliness in the water, but he loves what swimming offers.

“It is one of the more relaxing sports,” Stanley said. “But the adrenaline on the block is another thing I really like. Just that competitive nature of the sport is what I love.”

Stanley is part of the group of seniors that has broken many Twin Lakes records and county records as well. He said he loves giving back to the community that helped turn him into a winner.

“I remember when I was younger, the top age group always coached,” Stanley said. “I knew when I got older I would do that for the little kids. Since they look up to me, I am not going to shoo them away. I love the community, so I will always give back.”

Stanley has aspirations to study biology at St. John’s before going off to medical school.

“Being a doctor has always been a dream for me,” Stanley said.