Taylor Ellis will hit her alarm tomorrow morning at 4:15. She gets up and prepares for the day, packing her school books, uniform, and bathing suit in the car, and heads out for Kingfish swim practice at 5 in Kingston.

By 6:30, she’s out of the pool and on her way to class at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, until 2. When school is out, she sets off for the pool at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a practice session with her Notre Dame teammates from 3 to 5 p.m.

After scarfing down dinner, she heads back to Kingston to catch the last hour of Kingfish practice, her final workout of the day.

Ellis is the defending Division 2 state champion in the 100-yard breaststroke, and finished second in the 500-yard freestyle last year.

Her diligence and dedication has paid off.

“It’s stressful sometimes balancing swimming and school work,’’ said the 16-year-old Hanson resident. “I don’t mind it because I love swimming and I love being around my friends.’’

ROBERT E. KLEIN FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

The Notre Dame Academy swim team does a team cheer in the water before a meet with Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro last week.

She started swimming competitively for USA Swimming at 8 and hasn’t looked back. This year, Ellis is swimming the 200-medley relay, 500-freestyle, 100-breaststroke, and the 400-freestyle relay for the Cougars.

Notre Dame coach Michelle Millard said that Ellis raises the intensity level for the rest of the team. “She pushes herself and sets an example for everyone else,’’ said Millard. “She’s definitely a leader for her lane.’’

Ellis pushed herself last Tuesday, winning every race against Milford High though she had not been in the pool in a week.

“I couldn’t swim because I had stitches,’’ said the 5-foot-10 Ellis. “It was hard because I’m not in the greatest shape after sitting out a week.’’

Her second event was the 500-yard freestyle, a distance that she considers one of her best. She stood on the block, towering over her opponents, and took off strong, diving well in front of them, continuing the race without slowing up.

“During the 500 I really started feeling it,’’ she said. She finished first in 5:28.22, an entire pool’s length in front of the Milford swimmer, quick enough to qualify her for the state meet.

“She swam the 500 event and she was able to keep a strong pace for that,’’ said Millard. “In a sprint she can really turn on the speed as well. Her 100-breast is her best, that’s what she won last year. It’s an interesting combination. She’s a pretty natural in the water. She’s well rounded in all aspects of swimming.’’

Ellis also qualified for states in the 100-breaststroke with a 1:10.75 finish, 11 seconds ahead of teammate Amanda Reilly.

“She clearly wasn’t challenged’’ at the meet, said Millard. “She’s in great swimming shape. A week off didn’t hurt her that much.’’

Hannah Cane, a junior at Marshfield High who also swims for Kingfish, said Ellis is a fun teammate.

“She’s so enthusiastic,’’ said Cane. “She’s always cheering for people and has a such a positive attitude.’’

“She’s powerful and fast. She puts all of her effort into every swim. She’s always tired after practice. She doesn’t feel accomplished unless she’s had a really hard practice.’’

Notre Dame junior Julie Coen, also a teammate with the Kingfish, calls Ellis a leader.

ROBERT E. KLEIN FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

“It’s stressful sometimes balancing swimming and school work,” says Taylor Ellis.

“A lot of people look up to her because of her accomplishments and hard-working attitude,’’ she said.

“Taylor has a strong work ethic that rubs off on everybody,’’ said Millard. “I appreciate it and I know her lanemates appreciate it as well.’’

Ellis said that winning the state meet last year was unforgettable. “It was so exciting. My entire team was happy for me,’’ she said. “The year before I was beaten and it was really my goal to win and I did. I work hard. I give it my all at practices and meets and it eventually paid off.’’

“I was happy for her when she won states,’’ said Kane. “She deserved it, she does two swim teams, which is hard. She definitely deserved the win.’’

Her goal is to win both the 500-freestyle and the 100-breaststroke.

“I’m also hoping to qualify for Olympic trials or nationals,’’ she said.

The 2012 US Olympic Team Trials are scheduled for early summer next year in Omaha.

“I’m definitely going to swim in college, I just don’t know where yet,’’ said Ellis.

She added, “I love swimming because it’s a team sport. There’s such a team effort. You make a lot of friends on the team and you get to know everyone really well and grow with them.’