Swimming Through Adversity: North Paulding High School’s Remarkable 2025 Season
For the North Paulding High School swim team, the 2025 winter season wasn’t just another chapter in a successful legacy—it was a story of perseverance, growth, and deep-rooted team spirit. Under the leadership of Head Coach Kaitlin Woods, the Wolfpack swimmers not only upheld a proud tradition, but pushed through formidable challenges to leave their mark at both the county and state levels.
Despite limited practice time and logistical hurdles, the Wolfpack achieved milestone after milestone: a dominant performance at county, a record-breaking regional debut, multiple state qualifiers, and a finals appearance that showcased the heart and hustle of the program.
Relays, Records, and Rising Stars
Central to this season’s success were standout performances from both the boys and girls squads. The boys team, led by senior captains and state qualifiers Jake Bellem and Logan Ingraffia, proved a formidable force. Alongside Chris Voge, Alex Nguyen, Jac Kader, and Chance Perkins, the boys propelled three relays to the state meet, with one returning to the finals—a significant accomplishment for a public school with limited resources.
“Both Jake and Logan had individual state cuts,” said Coach Woods. “Logan earned four, Jake had three—and both have signed to swim at the collegiate level.”
Jake’s achievements are particularly noteworthy given that he accomplished his state-qualifying times without a year-round club swimming background—a rarity in competitive high school swimming. Logan, meanwhile, not only qualified in four events, but consistently served as a leader in the water, showing tremendous growth over the season.
On the girls side, Caroline Pora, Alison O’Barr, Sophia Butler, Taylor Dellinger, and Sabryn Peak delivered a season to remember. Caroline emerged as a key leader and earned her own individual state cut. Together, these athletes carried a relay to state competition, reflecting the strength and depth of the team.
A Season of Firsts and Favorites
The 2025 season had no shortage of highlights for the Wolfpack, but a few moments stood out as particularly defining. Chief among them was the team’s performance at the Northwest Georgia (NWGA) Championship and County Meet, where the final relay qualifications for state were earned under pressure.
“That moment at NWGA and County when we hit our last relays to qualify for state—it was just electric,” recalled Coach Woods. “The energy, the teamwork, the excitement... those are the moments coaches live for.”
It was also a historic season in another regard: North Paulding competed at the Regional Championships for the first time ever, and placed third overall—an astonishing feat considering the size and competitive pedigree of the programs they faced.
“This season was amazing,” Woods said. “It was our 8th time winning county, our 15th straight showing at state, and our first regional appearance where we placed third. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Built on Grit: Overcoming the Odds
What makes North Paulding’s season even more impressive is the immense logistical and resource-based adversity the team faces on a daily basis. The Wolfpack doesn’t have a pool on campus. Instead, they travel an hour each way just to train—and only manage three days a week in the water.
In a sport where water time is critical, North Paulding’s swimmers compete against teams with vastly more access to facilities and coaching hours. Yet, instead of complaining, they grind. When meets are rescheduled at the last minute or unforeseen obstacles arise, they adapt. As Coach Woods put it: “They step up and push through. They face it head-on—and they do it as a team.”
This commitment to unity and accountability is what sets the Wolfpack apart. Whether in training or competition, every athlete knows they’re part of something bigger than themselves.
Leadership Through Legacy: The Class of 2025
The Class of 2025 will go down as one of the most influential in North Paulding swimming history. Composed of 13 seniors, most of whom swam for all four years, this group provided not just performance in the pool, but also maturity, guidance, and the intangible glue that holds great teams together.
“They each have helped shape the program in their own way,” said Woods. “Even those who weren’t captains showed leadership. We will miss them tremendously.”
Their legacy is reflected not only in the medals and time drops, but in the culture they’ve fostered—a culture where hard work, support, and pride in the program are paramount.
The Future Is Bright (and Wet)
With a graduating class as large and impactful as this one, the Wolfpack will have a tall order to fill next season. But for Coach Woods, there is no doubt that the foundation is strong.
“This program always excites me,” she said. “Each season, they work so hard and come together as a family. I’m constantly impressed by their dedication and growth.”
Some key swimmers—like Logan Ingraffia and Caroline Pora—blossomed into team leaders this season, and younger swimmers now have a blueprint for success thanks to their example. While the team will need to regrow its roster and continue to search for more water space for training, the commitment is already there.
Looking Ahead: Rebuilding with Heart
As the Wolfpack transitions into offseason mode, the focus is on rebuilding without losing the identity that’s made the program great. That means fostering a new wave of swimmers who are ready to step into leadership roles, while simultaneously pursuing resources to improve training capacity.
“We’re always looking for water space,” said Woods. “It’s an ongoing challenge, but one we’re committed to overcoming.”
Track the Pack
For fans, families, and future swimmers interested in following the team’s progress or contributing to the program, information and stats can be found on the team’s official website:
👉 https://nphsswimming.wixsite.com/wolfpack
📧 For general inquiries: nphsswimming@gmail.com
💬 For fundraising or booster-related questions: nphsswimbooster@gmail.com
Final Thoughts
What the North Paulding High School swim team accomplished this season cannot be measured by podiums alone. In a sport that demands discipline, resilience, and unity, they exemplified all three. With 15 consecutive state appearances, a historic regional debut, and a relentless work ethic despite countless barriers, the Wolfpack didn’t just swim—they soared.
As they prepare for a new chapter, one thing remains clear: the water may be far away, but the heart of the North Paulding swim team is always close to home.
 Championship and County Meet, where the final relay qualifications for state were earned under pressure.
“That moment at NWGA and County when we hit our last relays to qualify for state—it was just electric,” recalled Coach Woods. “The energy, the teamwork, the excitement... those are the moments coaches live for.”
It was also a historic season in another regard: North Paulding competed at the Regional Championships for the first time ever, and placed third overall—an astonishing feat considering the size and competitive pedigree of the programs they faced.
“This season was amazing,” Woods said. “It was our 8th time winning county, our 15th straight showing at state, and our first regional appearance where we placed third. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Built on Grit: Overcoming the Odds
What makes North Paulding’s season even more impressive is the immense logistical and resource-based adversity the team faces on a daily basis. The Wolfpack doesn’t have a pool on campus. Instead, they travel an hour each way just to train—and only manage three days a week in the water.
In a sport where water time is critical, North Paulding’s swimmers compete against teams with vastly more access to facilities and coaching hours. Yet, instead of complaining, they grind. When meets are rescheduled at the last minute or unforeseen obstacles arise, they adapt. As Coach Woods put it: “They step up and push through. They face it head-on—and they do it as a team.”
This commitment to unity and accountability is what sets the Wolfpack apart. Whether in training or competition, every athlete knows they’re part of something bigger than themselves.
Leadership Through Legacy: The Class of 2025
The Class of 2025 will go down as one of the most influential in North Paulding swimming history. Composed of 13 seniors, most of whom swam for all four years, this group provided not just performance in the pool, but also maturity, guidance, and the intangible glue that holds great teams together.
“They each have helped shape the program in their own way,” said Woods. “Even those who weren’t captains showed leadership. We will miss them tremendously.”
Their legacy is reflected not only in the medals and time drops, but in the culture they’ve fostered—a culture where hard work, support, and pride in the program are paramount.
The Future Is Bright (and Wet)
With a graduating class as large and impactful as this one, the Wolfpack will have a tall order to fill next season. But for Coach Woods, there is no doubt that the foundation is strong.
“This program always excites me,” she said. “Each season, they work so hard and come together as a family. I’m constantly impressed by their dedication and growth.”
Some key swimmers—like Logan Ingraffia and Caroline Pora—blossomed into team leaders this season, and younger swimmers now have a blueprint for success thanks to their example. While the team will need to regrow its roster and continue to search for more water space for training, the commitment is already there.
Looking Ahead: Rebuilding with Heart
As the Wolfpack transitions into offseason mode, the focus is on rebuilding without losing the identity that’s made the program great. That means fostering a new wave of swimmers who are ready to step into leadership roles, while simultaneously pursuing resources to improve training capacity.
“We’re always looking for water space,” said Woods. “It’s an ongoing challenge, but one we’re committed to overcoming.”
Track the Pack
For fans, families, and future swimmers interested in following the team’s progress or contributing to the program, information and stats can be found on the team’s official website:
👉 https://nphsswimming.wixsite.com/wolfpack
📧 For general inquiries: nphsswimming@gmail.com
💬 For fundraising or booster-related questions: nphsswimbooster@gmail.com
Final Thoughts
What the North Paulding High School swim team accomplished this season cannot be measured by podiums alone. In a sport that demands discipline, resilience, and unity, they exemplified all three. With 15 consecutive state appearances, a historic regional debut, and a relentless work ethic despite countless barriers, the Wolfpack didn’t just swim—they soared.
As they prepare for a new chapter, one thing remains clear: the water may be far away, but the heart of the North Paulding swim team is always close to home.)
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