For many Prep athletes, the start of sophomore year brings an unexpected dilemma: how are you going to fulfill your HEX credit requirement? As freshmen, many students earn one credit through Freshman Football (a no-cut program) and another through their primary sport, like basketball, lacrosse, or soccer. But once students reach sophomore year, there are fewer roster spots available on the JV or Varsity teams, which means many athletes suddenly find themselves scrambling for a new plan. This year, that scramble has pushed interest in non-cut sports to new highs, especially boys swim. Cross country saw a boost, too, but the biggest jump was in the pool. All of which raises the question: did half the class suddenly fall in love with swimming, or is the HEX credit the one doing the recruiting?
Though swim may have truly grabbed the hearts of athletes since last year, the more likely answer is that they are simply doing it for the HEX credit. The HEX credit requirement essentially states that if an athlete participates in two Prep sports in both their Freshman and Sophomore year, they will be exempt from taking part in HEX classes during their Junior and Senior year. Achieving the HEX credit requirement is a highly sought after task, and this year, has been the cause for high participation in noncut sports for the Sophomore class.
For many athletes hopeful of achieving the HEX credit requirement, the obvious answer is to choose a noncut sport. With the winter season typically being vacant for many athletes, and swim being the primary noncut winter sport, the choice to join seems clear. Sophomore Collin Grubbs who is entering his first swim season echoed this reasoning: “I joined swim because I needed to do another sport to get my HEX credit, but I also joined because some of my friends did it last year and they said it was fun.”
Still, not everyone is there for the credit. More than twenty swimmers are returning from last season simply for the love of the game. Sophomore Dylan Pai shared, “I feel like a lot of people are doing it for the credit, but I enjoy swim. I think it’s fun and helps build social connections.”
With a roster that’s grown by roughly 25 swimmers, head coach Andy Bernard has his work cut out for him. He’s prepared for it, and is excited about the rapid growth: “I always love to see more athletes coming out to swim!” Bernard said. Coming from last year’s lower participation, big adjustments are going to have to be made as far as practices and meets. “Certainly in training, it means a bit less individual attention from coaches…On the other hand, as coaches, it takes more planning and organization to make sure that we are structuring practices in a way that maximizes our use of time.”
Coach Bernard also acknowledged that the HEX system plays a role: “Absolutely, though I don’t think it’s the only reason anyone joined. No one has explicitly stated that they only joined to qualify for the HEX credit, but with so many new sophomores on the team, I know it’s at least part of the motivation.”
Though the swim team has never seen a jump in participation like this, it has been steadily increasing since the Covid season slump in 2020, when only nine swimmers were on the team. The 2025-2026 team is now the largest Coach Bernard has ever managed by a wide margin. Through it all, he remains positive and excited: “Even if they’re just coming for the HEX credit, I hope all the new swimmers come away with a love for the water and a desire to come back next season.”
In the end, all of this raises some big questions many students are asking about HEX credits: Is the current system fair to everyone? Should sports that athletes participate in outside of Prep also count towards HEX credit (like gymnastics, ice hockey, and more)? Should the exemption exist at all, since HEX classes teach health topics that sport teams don’t? Does connecting credits to sports add pressure to activities that should be fun and inclusive? There’s no single answer, but the conversation is important. Prep students stay active in lots of different ways, and many want a credit system that recognizes that.
