Anna McCurdy, left, and Cierra Campbell show off a picture of the pair swimming together 10 years ago as the Free State High seniors signed letters of intent: McCurdy with the University of Maine and Campbell with Indiana State.

Free State High seniors Cierra Campbell and Anna McCurdy have swam together for the past decade. On Wednesday, they celebrated one of their biggest swimming achievements alongside each other.

Campbell signed her letter of intent to swim with Indiana State University, and McCurdy signed with the University of Maine in the school’s multi-purpose room in front of family, friends and coaches.

“This is pretty surreal seeing all these people come out and support Cierra and I,” McCurdy said. “I’ve known Cierra since I was 6 or 7, so we’ve been swimming together for quite a while. It’s pretty cool to be able to sign next to her and see how we’ve both grown and really developed as people and swimmers. It’s pretty special.”

Anna McCurdy, left, and Cierra Campbell show off a picture of the pair swimming together 10 years ago as the Free State High seniors signed letters of intent: McCurdy with the University of Maine and Campbell with Indiana State.

Campbell won state championships in the 200-yard freestyle, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay last year, breaking state records in both of her relays. She added a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle, helping the Firebirds to their first team title since 2009.

She will join the Sycamores for their inaugural season next year. The school announced it was adding a women’s swimming and diving program in October 2014.

“The coach is phenomenal,” said Campbell, who plans to major in business with a minor in textiles. “It’s a brand new program and I just felt like I would be a real good fit and have an opportunity to grow as a leader, as a person and as an athlete. I just thought it was a perfect fit for me.”

Both of Campbell’s parents swam collegiately, and her brother, Canaan, is a sophomore swimmer at Missouri State. Her father, Clark, is the women’s swim coach at Kansas University.

Being familiar with the signing day process didn’t make the day any less emotional.

“It’s so exciting,” Campbell said. “It’s such a weight off of your shoulder. Definitely overwhelming right now. Right now, it just feels like I’m getting older.”

McCurdy finished 13th at state in the 200 individual medley and seventh in the 500 freestyle last season. She decided last week that she was going to attend Maine after visiting the school in September.

“I knew I wanted a smaller Div. I school,” McCurdy said. “Then just visiting the campus … it was gorgeous. I really like the team and coaches. That just kind of sold it for me.”

With a few months until the start of their final high school swim season, McCurdy and Campbell were just happy to have their college choices finalized.

“You can enjoy senior year now,” McCurdy said. “I know where I’m going. Really just enjoy it before we both leave and go to new places and start our next journey.”