Last fall, Alyssa Laydon watched her two older sisters, Emily and Kayla, make their mark as freshmen for the North Haven girls' swimming team with each of them competing through the state championship. Alyssa, an 8th-grader at the time, had been swimming year-round with her sisters since she was four and, after seeing how much fun they were having with the Indians, couldn't wait to join the team.

"I loved going to Emily and Kayla's meets and wanted high school to come so fast so I could get in the water with the team," she says.

Well, Alyssa got her opportunity this fall and has certainly made the most of it for she's had an immediate impact on North Haven in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, plus a pair of relays. Alyssa has won her individual events several times in helping the Indians attain a winning record, including victories during the squad's recent Senior Night victory versus Hamden. She also swam on the triumphant 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays, capping a phenomenal rookie regular season as Alyssa now prepares for the SCC and state meets.

"Being on this team means everything to me. I couldn't ask for better teammates or coaches. We're there for each other all the time," Alyssa says. "We all feel great about the way our season ended by beating Hamden as everybody stepped up and swam best times. I'm also happy that I've gotten out to a good start for the team and now one of my goals is to break 1:13 in the breaststroke."

Alyssa adds that one of her long-term goals with North Haven is to become a captain, something which stems from the influence of the Indians' current captains-Sarah Pucci, Alex Martin, Becky Miller, and Kelly Konopka-who Alyssa calls "great role models who always have a positive attitudes and lead us in the right direction."

Of course, Alyssa is additionally influenced by Emily and Kayla, who are faring quite well themselves as the further swims the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke with Kayla doing freestyles.

"I've always looked up to my sisters and wanted to be like them," says Alyssa, who also thanks her mother Lucy and father Bill. "They've always been so good to me and we still cheer each other on or help one another if we're having a bad day. It's a good feeling to know you always have someone next to you who's supporting you."

North Haven Coach Colleen Delaney has nothing but positive things to say about all three of the Laydon sisters, calling them "tremendous swimmers."

"Alyssa may be a freshman, but she's stepped up like a senior this year," Delaney says. "Alyssa has one of the fastest starts off the block I've ever seen and that helps her swim a great 50 free because it's such a short race where you need a good start. She also has the strong upper body that's needed to do well in the breaststroke. We heard about Alyssa last year so we knew had a lot of raw talent coming to our team and Alyssa has lived up to expectations by making a big impact."

Indeed, Alyssa's athletic reputation preceded her, as last year, she competed at the New England Zone Championship on behalf of her year-round squad at Hamden Hall, something she achieved by earning a slot in Connecticut's top 10 in the 50 breaststroke. Still, the pressure of being counted on as a freshman for North Haven hasn't bothered Alyssa.

"I like being under pressure because it gets me more warmed up for a race and makes me want to swim faster," she says. "Sometimes I have nerves at the start of a race, but once I get in the water, I get my game-face on and it helps so much when you know you have such a great team behind you."