Boardman swimmers go blond

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Neighbors | Submitted.The Boardman High School boys swim team held their annual hair dyeing party on Jan. 24. The boys pass the the time during the bleaching process with a little reading. .The swimmers include, from left, Alec Santamas, Jake Santamas, Ali Azeem and Ryan MItchell.

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Neighbors | Submitted.The blonde hair sets the swimmers apart from their classmates and further unites them as a team. This helps prepare them for the Sectional Swim Championships. .The seniors showing off their new look include, from left, Jake Santamas, Kevin O'Niel, Ryan Mitchell, Kyle Knecht and Ali Azeem.

The Boardman High School boys swim team held their annual hair-dyeing party on Jan. 24 at X-Static About Hair Salon.

Owner Jennifer Iamurri opened the salon for the swim team event. The tradition is held every year about three weeks prior to the Sectional Swim Championships of the State Swimming and Diving Tournament.

Coach Terry O’Halloran said that the blond tradition is common to most high school swim teams getting ready for the championship part of the season.

The blond hair sets them apart from their classmates in school and further bonds them as a team. This allows them to be recognized outside of the swimming arena.

The day before the championship competition, all of the boys get together again and shave it all off to reduce their resistance in the water.

From “blond to bald” the tradition has been part of Boardman swimming for the past 25 years.