By Rayne Hayes
Throughout their undefeated season the varsity girls and boys swim team has shown nothing but rigor and dedication, leading them both to regional wins and then to state in Carson City on Saturday, May 20.
“We had practices that were focused on specifically strengthening our types of strokes, turns, and walls. We started this season off really well showing determination, and we all function as a team,” Sofia Avila, sophomore, said.
The first meet of the season took place on Saturday, March 18 at Municipal against Green Valley. In one of their closest meets of the season, the girls won 173-139. Their best team score was in the 400-yard Medley Relay, their total time in the water was 3:04.76 versus the Gators 4:05.49. The boys had no problem defeating the Gators 170-139. Their best team time was in the 200-yard Medley Relay finishing at 1:42.17 compared to the Gators 1:44.76.
The Foothill Falcons did not pose a threat to the team either; the girls beat them 164-141 at Municipal and the boys 184-125. Their overall best team times were both in the 200-yard Medley Relay. In a close call, the women beat the Falcons by one second, and the men beat them by seven seconds on Saturday, March 25.
“We’re the best team in the region. We know that, and all the other teams know that too. We’re always confident that we will win. When times come super close, our coach believes in us and we know to step it up, and we just swim cause that’s what we’re good at,” Sae Adachi, junior, said.
The Cougars took down the Basic Wolves on Tuesday, April 4 at the Multi-generational Center. The final scores were 204-68 for the boys and 200-79 for the girls.
The last league meet occured on Saturday, April 22 at the Multi-generational Center. The Liberty Patriots came in with high hopes of ruining the Cougars undefeated record; however, they were no match for them. In the 400-yard team Freestyle Relay, the girls beat the Liberty 4:01.62-4:03.04. The boys also continued to crush the Patriots 1:46.11-1:55.32 in their 200-yard team Medley Relay. The final score for the girls was 205-81 and the boys finished with 214 -61.
On Saturday, May 17 the team faced their biggest challenge yet, regionals. With nerves high they had to stay calm and collected to compete at their best. The water and 11 other schools, that’s all they had to overcome, and they succeeded. The women ended with a score of 489; their closest competitor was Green Valley with 455.5. The men ended with a score of 511; their closest competitor also being the Gators with a score of 442.
“This [regional] win was better than before because it was the team that won not just a few fast people that won. Our team did their part and swam their hearts out and that earned us regional champions,” Jacob Schroeder, sophomore, said.
Following their success at regionals they traveled to Carson City to overcome their last challenge, state. As a whole the boys team scored highest in their 200-yard freestyle race, losing to Douglas by one second and losing to Palo Verde by two seconds in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Their final score was 72 to Palo’s 115 securing them second place.
The girl’s got seventh in state, with a final score of 27. The team’s best whole score was in the 200-yard freestyle race,1:41.17, losing to Palo Verde by four seconds.
With approximately 50 returning swimmers, the swim team hopes to make their mark again at state next year.
