by Emma Shuster ‘18

After winning the Maryland Swimming and Diving State Championships and the Washington Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Championships last year, the girls’ swim team looks for a repeat performance this year.

In order to do so, the team will have to overcome the loss of graduated seniors Morgan Hill and Margarita Ryan. Now swimming at the University of Virginia, Hill won the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle at both states and Metros. Swimming at Virginia Tech this year, Ryan earned fourth place in the 100 butterfly and backstroke as well as fifth in the 100 butterfly and second in the 100 backstroke at Metros. Both girls were also on the first place 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay.

Coach Brendan Lees is confident that his girls’ team will return strong, determined, and ready. With several new freshman and pivotal returning swimmers such as sophomore Emma Eustace, juniors Grace Giddings, Kelly Kolanowski, and Kennedy Nolan, and senior Jaimy Wenhold, the team hopes that they will have just as strong of a season as they did last year.

“We have a deep team, and I have no doubt about it that we will come back competitive. Everyone is always so positive and works really hard in hopes of winning states and Metros again this year,” said Lees.

The boys’ team also figures to be competitive this year, and is led by strong returning swimmers such as juniors Declan Black, Chad Carlson, and Andrew Martinez, and seniors Matt Connors, Andrew Dunn, and Mateo Gomez. As they did last year, the boys will try to bring home another regional title.

Come out and support both the girls’ and boys’ swim teams as they compete against Magurder in their second meet of the year, on December 10 at the Olney Swim Center at 11:30 a.m.