At this time of the year in the scholastic sports world, teams and athletes are preparing for the upcoming winter season. Practices are intensifying, skills are being honed, and group and individual standards and goals are being established.

Brody Reber is currently experiencing many of those same emotions and feelings. But in some very tangible ways, it's different for a state champion, especially one in the sport of swimming.

"I'm a member of the Lancaster Aquatic Club, and I practice with them year-round," said Brody. "With any club team, it's not built around the high school season; we don't train for the high school season. We swim year-round. We're always in racing shape. Anyone who does club swimming is doing it year-round. High school is another thing to do and a way to have fun."

A junior at Lititz Christian School, Brody is a national-level swimmer and a reigning state champion. He doesn't practice with the Warwick High School boys' swimming team, but he does show up for Warrior interscholastic meets, competes and puts forth his best effort for the team.

This winter, the Warwick boys' swim team will open the dual meet portion of its season on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Lititz recCenter when it hosts McCaskey. As a member of the team, Brody will likely compete in whichever event he is needed most to maximize his point potential.

"I don't go to Warwick High School," said Brody. "I know the kids on the team, but I don't go to school there, so I don't have the same social aspect from swimming as they do. I do it because I enjoy it. The way I approach meets is to try and win and get points so the team can win. In high school, swimming is a team sport. Club swimming is more individual. I'm there to help the team win."

The date was March 13, 2024; the place was Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg. Brody, representing the Warwick High School boys' swim team, captured the gold medal in the 200 individual medley event - a race that requires the execution of four different strokes - at the PIAA Class AAA Swimming Championships in a time of 1:48.94.

During his first two seasons of competing at the PIAA level, Brody has competed in four different events at states.

"I remember after (winning states) feeling pretty good," said Brody. "I went into the season wanting to win states. Saying you want to do something and doing it are two different things. But I tried not to put too much pressure on it. I wanted to improve on how I did before, get after it, swim fast and see what I could do. It was just a lot of fun."

Rare are the student-athletes who have already won state championships and aren't motivated to win them again. But for Brody, before he can focus on a return trip to Bucknell this March, there is the matter of Junior National Championships - East at Indiana University in Indianapolis in the middle of December, where he will be representing the Lancaster Aquatic Club.

"(The PIAA meet) is a long time away," said Brody. "If I'm focused on something in the future, I'm not going to focus on what I have now. I have junior nationals in December. I'm training every day. I'm not thinking about states. It's about being at practice every day, putting my head down and focusing on the little things."

"I'm pretty competitive," continued Brody. "If I'm going to do something, I'm going to try to win it. I attack everything. We spend so much time working for these things. It's especially nice to see the work pay off, especially for the people helping you."

Brody's long-term plans for swimming include competing at college, and he's already been contacted by a number of programs. What he's looking for at the next level is a place where he can connect with teammates, become the best swimmer he can possibly be and and have fun.

"(Competitive swimming is) not easy," said Brody. "But I think if you have a goal in mind, you should go after it. You've got one shot at this. My dad always tells me, 'Stay humble and stay hungry.' I think you have to be your own voice and don't let anything get in your way. It's hard work, but it's very rewarding."