Bartlesville High School varsity swimmer Grayson Ellis measures his sport in seconds, yards and endurance, but the junior also sees swimming as a test of attitude.

Ellis competes in everything from the 50-yard freestyle to the mile, though he said the 100 freestyle stands out as his favorite race. He describes distance swimming as the strength of his event lineup, while sprint work remains an area he wants to sharpen.

“In swim I compete in all the events from the 50 freestyle to the mile,” Ellis said. “My favorite event would have to be the 100-yard freestyle.” He added that his strength is distance swimming, including the mile and 1,000-yard races, but said he is working to improve his sprinting.

That mix of range and self-awareness reflects the daily demands he faces as a competitive swimmer. Ellis said the hardest part is arriving at every practice ready to improve, especially on days that begin with morning weightlifting, continue through the school day and end with a two-hour session in the pool.

“Some days are really long with weightlifting in the morning then into school and then back to a 2-hour practice,” Ellis said. “All of that makes it tough to keep going at the end of the day.”

Even so, Ellis said the team culture in Bartlesville helps carry swimmers through the toughest stretches of the season. He said teammates keep each other motivated while still finding ways to enjoy the work.

“What I love most about my team here in Bartlesville is that when we’re working through a tough practice everyone is encouraging each other and still having fun,” Ellis said.

Ellis also points to the example set by his coach and by former teammate Luke Olsen. He said his coach inspires him through steady commitment, while Olsen showed him how to combine hard work with a welcoming attitude toward younger athletes.

“What makes representing Bartlesville special for me is knowing we have a reputation to uphold and that our actions show who we are as Bruins,” Ellis said.

Looking ahead, Ellis said he has not settled on a single path after high school, but college swimming remains a possibility. Another goal has surfaced outside the pool: He said he would like to become a commercial pilot after developing an interest in aviation.