Swim and Dive Team Sweep at District Meet

Victoria Novoa, Photographer| January 20, 2020

  • KyAnh Truong ’21 hugs an opposing swimmer after a race last season. Truong announced she will continue her swimming career at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

    Shreyush Shankar
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  • Raymond Wang ’22 and Benjamin He ’23 jump off the blocks as a race begins.

    Shreyush Shankar
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  • Benjamin He ’23 swims in the 100 meter butterfly. As a freshman, this was his first district meet.

    Shreyush Shankar
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  • Halli Hewett ’23 takes a breath in the 100 meter breast stroke. Hewett came in 12th overall swimming the race, clocking in at 1:14.76.

    Shreyush Shankar
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  • The Boys A team relay cheers for their fellow team mate in the 400 meter free style relay. They came in first overall, qualifying them for the regional meet.

    Shreyush Shankar
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  • Joey Christensen ’21 takes a breath in freestyle. As a junior, Christensen wasn’t too nervous swimming at the District meet.

    Shreyush Shankar
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  • Sonny Wang ’23 and Nathan Early ’20 congratulate each other after the 100 meter freestyle. Wang came in second by a hundredth of second behind Early.

    Shreyush Shankar
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  • Benji Truong ’21 takes a breath in the 100 meter breast stroke. Truong came in 5th over all, qualifying for the regional championship meet.

    Shreyush Shankar
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The swim and dive team prevailed at the annual district meet on Friday Jan. 17. The boys came in first against eight other teams, and the girls came in second. Collectively, the Warriors came in first overall. 

In the weeks leading up to the meet, coach Matthew McBrearty and assistant coach Austin Franklin changed the practice schedule, allowing swimmers to choose from going to the weight room or the pool. In the week of districts, many swimmers decided to taper, allowing their bodies to recover and be ready for the meet. 

“The week leading up to districts is my favorite,” Mayra Puga ‘21 said, “The practices become a lot more chill and we start focusing on the events that we are going to swim. It’s really helpful.” 

At this district meet, the top six swimmers in each event move on to regionals, and top three overall get awarded with gold, silver, and bronze medals. In many of these events, the Warriors took the top three spots, sweeping the competition. All three girl divers who competed made it to regionals, taking the top three spots at districts. 

“I was really excited when I heard the three of us got first second and third place,” dive captain Sami Greisdorf ‘21 said. “Not only did we earn points for the team, but all three of us are going to regionals, which is going to be very fun and exciting.” 

Throughout the meet, the Warriors stood cheering for each other in every event. Coach McBrearty made sure that if a swimmer wasn’t swimming, they were standing on the sidelines cheering for their teammates. 

“Standing behind the block and seeing your team cheering for you means a lot,” Nathaniel Thomas ‘20 said. “It reminds you that you have a group of people who love and support you, and gives you some sort of motivation to go faster.” 

During the meet both A team relays for girls and boys won the 400-yard freestyle relay, as well as the 200-yard freestyle relay. 

“I was so proud of our relays when I heard we made regionals,” Benji Truong ‘21 said, “We’ve worked hard all season, so it’s really satisfying to know that it paid off.” 

In the boys’ 100-yard freestyle, Sonny Wang ‘23, Caleb Farris ‘20, and Nathan Early ‘20 all competed in the same heat. Coming in first with 46.90 was Early, and Wang was close behind with a time of 46.91. Farris came in fourth clocking in at 48.15. 

“I wasn’t too nervous swimming in a heat with a bunch of seniors,” Wang said. “Nathan and Caleb are very talented swimmers, and I’m just happy I got to swim with them.” 

The swim and dive team will travel to Mansfield, Texas to compete in the Regional Championship meet from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.