There's a competitive swimming team in Hickory that has it all — a veteran coach, athletes of every skill level and a state and national record holder.

    The YMCA Seahorse Swim Team, also known as YSST, is a team based out of the Hickory Foundation YMCA that offers a year-round swimming program for kids of all abilities, ages 6 through 19.

    The team competes on both the national YMCA, and the national USA Swimming levels, and competes in meets across the southeast.

    Sava Turcanu, 13, was born in Chisinau, Moldova, and moved to the United States with his parents when he was 4. A rising eighth grader at H.M. Arndt Middle School, Turcanu said he took up swimming because problems with his knees and feet kept him from participating in other sports. He joined the YSST at 6 years old, and has been with the team ever since.

    Seven years later, Turcanu holds 17 short course and 13 long course team records, and is the current state record holder in the 200-yard butterfly at 2 minutes, 1.47 seconds for 11-12 year-olds, set back in December. He also holds the national YMCA record in the 100-meter butterfly.

    To hear Turcanu tell his story, you'd never know he was so decorated at such a young age unless he mentioned it.

    "It just happened," he said.

    And that's the way his coach looks at it, too.

    Head coach Jon Jolley, who is in his 16th year with the team, has the coaching philosophy of maximizing "individual potential and to promote swimming in the community at all levels." He'll tell you that. It's also posted on the team's Web site.

    "There's a place on the team for everyone," Jolley said. "Our goal is to get kids college scholarships."

    So far, Jolley said, former members have earned scholarships to schools such as N.C. State, UNC-Wilmington, Gardner-Webb, Emory, Wagner and the Naval Academy.

    With that mindset, Jolley said he schedules meets for kids against bigger and better competition so they'll learn something and grow in their skill, not so they'll dominate and peak too early.

    "I don't want you to be a big fish in a little pond," he said. "I want you to know what's in the ocean."

    Then how does Turcanu hold a state and national records?

    Because he's dedicated.

    Jolley said he coaches each kid according to his own dedication. Some kids practice three hours a week, he said, and others practice nearly 20 hours a week. During the summer, practice begins at 7 a.m. for the morning session six days a week, at 4 p.m. for the afternoon session three days a week, and there are two dry-land practices that focus on core conditioning. When school's in session, the a.m. practice is at 5:30.

    "If you're going to be in the high-level group, you're going to practice 19-20 hours a week," Jolley said.

    Turcanu, along with teammate Katherine Glenn, 17, both begin their summer days early, rising around 6 a.m. to make it to practice. Then there's the 5:30 a.m. practices they make during the school year. But all in all, they've learned what it takes to work towards being a good swimmer.

    "It's taught me that if I really want to go fast (in the pool) then I've got to work for it," Glenn said. "It's exhausting at times. And sometimes I just want to quit because it gets so hard. But once you make it to nationals, it's all worth it."    Glenn, who will dual-enroll at Catawba Valley Community College in the fall, holds two team records in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events, set back in February.

    To keep his kids grounded, and to keep them working to better themselves instead of being happy with where they are, Jolley uses the Olympics as a motivational tool. Posted on the team's Web site is the daily schedule of the Olympic trials going on this week, with times and television channels.

    Jolley said he uses the olympian hopefuls, as the trials will determine who makes the team for next month's Beijing Olympics, to show his team members what never settling will get you.

    Turcanu was happy when he broke the state 200-yard butterfly record, and Jolley was there to remind him that he was a long way from being the best he can be — in the future — and to keep working hard.

    "Ultimately, we want them to go fast (in the pool) when they're 18," he said. "It's the long-term development, not the short term."

    Anyone who is interested may join. The team offers a free, two-week trial, and accepts new members year-round. Those who wish to participate will be put into the proper age, skill and dedication group. For more details on joining the YSST, call the Hickory Foundation YMCA at (828) 324-2858.