Diving into the pool is one of Robert Barton’s favorite things. It’s that first initial contact that wakes him up and gets him ready to compete, whether for Jordan High School or for his U.S.A. Club Team.

“I have two older sisters and my parents put them into swim when they were pretty young,” says Barton. “I was the youngest one to start swimming and I was just kind of a natural at it.”

Barton has shown his natural ability in the water since he was four years old, joining a summer league before joining the US swim club when he was seven years old.

“I love the competition, especially at big state meets or out of state meets,” he says. Barton has traveled across the country competing in places like Chicago, Texas, California, and Oregon. He has also helped to lead his fellow Beetdiggers to success in regionals and state.

“High school state meets are one of my favorites,” Barton says, “just having my school have my back and representing my school in a sport that’s not super popular.”

Barton has achieved six of the eight individual records for Jordan High as well as all three relay records with his teammates. Barton has also won regional in individual races as well as the medley relay with other teammates.

Barton has applied the discipline and drive he’s learned from swimming and applied it to his studies, participating in AP classes, enjoying the challenge harder classes pose. “It was fun doing those harder classes with my friends, we’ve been friends since elementary school, so we’ve kind of gone through the whole process together which is super special.”

Barton says his counselor, Robert Spears, has been a role model for him. “He’s a really good guy and he’s helped me a lot through school. I think he’s helped me become a better student and be more accountable of myself.”

It’s those same lessons Barton learned through school and from his counselor he hopes next year’s graduates will learn and follow. “The best advice I could give is to get your work done and then have fun. One of the best decisions I’ve made this year as a senior is to go to class, get my work done, even when the senioritis kicked in because it will come back to get you if you don’t. If you’re responsible for yourself, you can help others be responsible as well.”

Barton plans to continue to reach for his dreams and goals. Including one he set as a freshman, to swim for at a division one university. He’s achieving that dream and will be swimming for Brigham Young University.