Joshua Loyda holds one individual school swim record —100 backstroke (55.45 set this season) — and has helped set school marks in three relays — 200 medley and 200 and 400 freestyle — during his brilliant high school career at Glacier.

The senior is also enjoying another banner campaign as he has not lost a race in the 100 back this winter and has been beaten just twice in the 50 freestyle.

“I’ve been doing it for three or four years,” he said of the backstroke, where he is a heavy favorite to claim the title this weekend at the state meet in Butte.

“It has been my mainstay.”

But the 50 free will have added importance for him in this meet, which begins today. His older brother Jordan is the school record holder in that event with a time of 21.99. Joshua’s best is 22.3.

“There is,” he said of friendly rivalry between the two siblings, “but it’s all in good fun. He’s pushed me since I was very young.”

Jordan and his mom, Deidre, have been his two biggest influences in the pool.

“Josh Loyda consistently seeks to challenge himself,” Glacier coach Dave Lilliard said of his standout. “He often asks to do a fast swim for time after the workout to see how fast he can go. It’s not unusual to see him swim a great time after already swimming 5,000 yards in practice.

“I enjoy Josh’s teachability; when we ask him to make changes to his stroke, he makes it happen and sees success,” Lilliard added.

Jordan won the 50 free at state last year during his senior season. Joshua was second at state last year in the 100 back (55.68).

“I love being in the water,” he said.

“I’m a very social person and I love socializing (around the pool), having others to push me.”

Loyda swims year-round and will take a break of one to two weeks at some point to get re-energized.

“The largest break I ever took was a month and I couldn’t stand it. You always have to come back to the pool.

“It’s hardest (to swim without a team),” he said. “It’s hard to find the motivation. It’s so easy to just stay home.”

Loyda finds his pool time to be either quiet, focused or cleansing.

“A few times this year with my classes,” he said of swimming being a stress reliever for him.

Loyda has been a state placer two previous seasons for the Wolfpack. He did not compete his sophomore year.

He finished seventh at state as a freshman in the 500 freestyle.

“I’m not a distance swimmer,” he said. “That was OK ... not very good for me.”

Last year before state, he was sick with influenza A, which limited his performances.

“I was happy to take first place in the 200 free relay,” he said. “I couldn’t hold it (in the 200 free). I had no energy and took fourth. I was seeded second.”

He says he’s 100 percent healthy for this state experience and ready to go out in style.

“Everybody always asks me if I’m ready to be a senior and go to college and I say yes,” he said.

“I still think of myself as that little freshman sometimes.

“I will miss high school swimming and the experience,” he added. “I’m looking forward to the future and what it has in store for me.”