By the time their senior seasons concluded at the IHSA state finals at FMC Natatorium, Wade Pyle and Sam Grojean had done far more than qualify for state meets and break records.

They changed the trajectory of the program.

Over the last four years, Pyle and Grojean anchored the most successful stretch in Ironmen swimming history—multiple individual state appearances, record-setting performances and a culture younger swimmers have started to emulate.

Now, their names are part of the program’s history forever.

Senior year without pressure

For Pyle and Grojean, the senior year brought an unfamiliar feeling: freedom.

With recruiting decisions already settled—Pyle, an Oakland signee, and Grojean, a Youngstown State signee—and prior experience at the state finals, their focus shifted to making real noise.

“This year was the first year that I knew I was going to final,” Grojean said. Coach Heather Budak “and I worked out strategies for prelims so I could save energy for finals … I was just trying to have fun with it and see what I could do.”

Pyle, who qualified individually as a sophomore and junior, carried the same confidence into his final season.

“After I made finals sophomore year,” Pyle said, “I was kind of wanting to keep going from there and see where I could go.”

That belief—paired with the freedom of settled futures—allowed the two to lead one of the most accomplished senior classes the program has produced.

Raising the program standard

Pyle’s senior campaign placed him among the most decorated swimmers in Community history.

He finished second in both the 200-yard freestyle (1:37.27) and the 100-yard freestyle (43.95) at state, becoming the program’s first state medalist since Trevor Tucci in 2018 and one of only three Ironmen swimmers ever to place second or higher at the meet.

Pyle also won sectional championships in both freestyle events and led the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams to state. At the Big 12 Conference meet, he won the 100 and 200 freestyle and swam on the conference-winning 200 medley relay team as the Ironmen finished second overall.

Grojean added a milestone season of his own, placing 14th in the 100-yard breaststroke at state while making his fourth consecutive appearance at the meet. He set a school record in the event with a time of 56.83 at sectionals.

The 400 freestyle relay team of Wade Pyle, Troy Rekamp, Ethan Arndt and Nolan Pyle also set a school record with a time of 3:09.38. 

Through their performances, Pyle and Grojean elevated the program’s ceiling—together.

“I just wanted to make the team the best that it could be,” Pyle said. “Bring everyone up, build everyone up, and make it a better environment for everyone.”

A turning point in Champaign

For both swimmers, a turning point came with the decision to begin competing with the Champaign County YMCA Heat.

While the move required extra travel, it proved integral to their development.

“We pulled a bunch of different people from different places to all come to Champaign,” Pyle said. “Making practice a super-fast environment every single day was helpful and pretty cool.”

Grojean said the decision followed instability with their previous club.

“We knew we needed to make that sacrifice,” Grojean said. “It was huge for us.”

The Budak effect

The club training mattered, but both swimmers credit coach Heather Budak with shaping their development—athletically and personally—inside the high school season.

“She would always push me to go past my limit,” Pyle said. “She was just always 100 percent supportive in whatever I wanted to do. It was such a huge help for me.”

As the team’s strengths shifted to sprint events, Budak adapted the training program to reflect that.

“When Wade and I and other juniors were excelling, she started researching more sprint-based training,” Grojean said. “And it really showed.”

For Grojean, her lessons extended beyond the pool.

“Her sets are directly correlated to how you will perform at meets,” Grojean said. “If you slack off, you’re not going to do well. She showed me that that is just life in general.”

More than medals

Grojean believes the example the senior class set will live on within the program long after they leave.

“I just hope they remember that hard work pays off,” Grojean said. “We showed that if you really put in the work and cut out the outside distractions, you will get the results that you want.”

Visualization and preparation also played a role.

“When you visualize it going well, you know exactly what to do when you’re in that moment,” Grojean said. “We took that very seriously the last two years.”

Pyle echoed the importance of setting an example younger swimmers could follow.

“We modeled that you can work hard and listen well,” Pyle said, “but also have a great time doing it.”

A legacy on the wall

By the end of their careers, Pyle, Grojean and the senior class have left their marks across the program’s record board.

But when Pyle comes back to Community, he hopes he does not have to read “Wade Pyle” on that board.

“I honestly hope [future swimmers] break them,” Pyle said. “Records are meant to be broken.”

That attitude is exactly what this senior class is leaving behind.

Years from now, their biggest legacy will not be the times they posted or the records they set.

It will be the standard.