By BEN HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune Published: October 03, 2012 Updated: October 03, 2012 - 12:00 AM

The High School Newsome girls swim team has gotten off to a great start this year winning the City Relays meet and meets against Academy of the Holy Names and Plant, two of the county's top teams.

First-year head coach Erin Yonkee has relied on the success of senior Barbara Caraballo, junior Merrill Wilson and sophomore Maddie Hess to lead the way for the Wolves.

"Without those girls, we wouldn't have the strength to win some of these meets," Yonkee said.

The life of a competitive swimmer requires long hours and personal sacrifice. Like many swimmers, these three are in the pool grinding out laps every morning, sometimes as early as 4:45 a.m. After a full day of classes, they return to the pool for an afternoon session.

"It's tiring, but you get used to it," said Hess, 15.

Hess and Caraballo started swimming when they were 5 years old; Wilson started when she was 7. Caraballo got into it to burn off excess energy.

"My mom says it was because of ADHD. I had trouble being still in the blocks," said Caraballo, 16.

The swimmers' hard work paid off this summer when both Caraballo and Hess qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.

"It was incredible to be racing," said Hess, who qualified for the meet in both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke. "I don't think there will be any meets like that."

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Swim trio powers Newsome to success in meet after meet