Siblings are often competitive, but the Stickney brothers, Caden (11) and Calvin (9), strive to help each other succeed. 

Their passion for swimming began in kindergarten with the Marlins, a small swimming club at the Kramer Aquatic Center in Manchester, and quickly took off.

“Our cousins were swimming competitively,” Calvin said. “We wanted to swim competitively as well. So we just found the nearest club team and joined.” 

On the swim team, they met Zachary and Braden Wenger, who invited them to swim for Dubuque Hempstead High School. 

The Stickneys have made great accomplishments, even breaking a school record in the 200 medley relay together.

“We were pretty pumped because I broke it last year with a different relay, and then breaking it with Calvin was a pretty good feeling,” Caden said. 

The boys push each other. 

“He’s always giving me tips on how to swim better,” Calvin said. “He’s really good at freestyle and the breaststroke.”

They show a great commitment to the sport. Every day after school for four months, they drive 45 minutes just for practice, Calvin said.

At meets, the two find motivation and confidence in one another. 

Together, the boys qualified for seven different state events: 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 500 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Breaststroke, 400 Freestyle Relay. They placed second in  the 200 medley relay. 

Eventually, both brothers plan to pursue swimming at the collegiate level.

Calvin plans to pursue swimming out West, and Caden wants to swim for Michigan.