HILLIARD, Ohio — Brian Dickmann has been coaching swimming for 28 years, but this season has been unlike any other.

He’s the head coach of Hilliard Darby High school, which is located in a Columbus suburb, and due to the team’s venue COVID-19 restrictions, they’ve had to get creative in order to compete.

“However you can get the swims in, you have to do it,” Dickmann said.

The Panthers have been competing virtually during their practice slot at 5 a.m., recording their race times to be scored against an opposing team competing at a separate venue.

“They’ll swim at their practice time and we will merge the results,” he said.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has adopted this system of virtual competition, providing guidelines for teams across the state.

Brady Bower, who is a senior, said the meets don’t feel that different.

“No matter where we are, we’re always competing with ourselves, with our team and then we were aware that other teams would be competing virtually, so yes, it did still feel like a meet,” Brady said.

While Brady and his teammates have to be up and moving at a time when many are still in bed, he said there is extra motivation this year.

"It was a very uncertain start to the season. We just wanted to . . . take every chance we got and if that meant waking up at 5 a.n. to swim we’re going to do it,” he said.