Junior Margarita Ryan swims the 100 fly in the Sherwood vs. Northwest meet on January 10 at the Olney Swim Center. The Warriors swept the event, Ryan taking first with a time of 59.65. Both the boys’ and the girls’ teams dominated the Jaguars (Boys’ 94-77, Girls’ 105-66). (photo by Jack Armstrong ’15)

By Steven Witkin ’16

Although being in the second division of four in the county, the swim and dive team has been known to outperform higher division teams in the championship season. With the regular season over, the Warriors are looking to do even better in Metro Champs and the state championships with a roster bolstered by new freshmen and improving upperclassmen.

The swim and dive team had one of its better seasons in the last few years, with the girls’ team finishing 4-1 and the boys’ team 2-3. After the regular-season meets, the best of the swimmers and divers go on to compete in Division II, regional and state championships, and most competitive of all, Metros.

The Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships is the only meet each year where both public and private schools compete against each other. Swimmers and divers must make a cut to be in the meet. This means that the top competition in swimming and diving from all high schools in the Greater Washington area are at one meet, usually attended by a packed crowd.

At last year’s Metros, the boys team finished twenty-ninth overall, and the girls came in seventh. However, several additions and improvements to the teams might be able to push the boys team into a higher standing and bring the girls closer to the third place they achieved two years ago. Those who placed high last year as underclassmen have improved.

Junior Margarita Ryan, who finished sixth in 100 yard backstroke last year, ahead of many then-seniors, can come back and score big for the Warriors this year. After winning the 50 yard freestyle and breaking both the Metros and MCPS records in a speedy 22.97 seconds at Metros last year, junior Morgan Hill is looking to defend her title, as well as score in her other events. Combined, the girls can put together an excellent 200 yard medley relay, as last year’s third-place team had only one graduating senior.

On the boy’s side, sophomore diver Cody Carlson is preparing to match his success last year, when he achieved sixth overall in the one meter diving. Senior Jake Ryan also has potential to score in the 200 and 500 yard freestyles.

Along with strong swimmers and divers on both teams, this year has seen a substantial and talented freshman class. Although freshmen and even sophomores rarely make the meet, a total of two male and five female freshmen swimmers made Metros. Kennedy Nolan, who made the cut in five events, has been practicing six days a week with her club team to prepare for the meet. “I’m extremely excited for Metros,” she said. “I hope to make finals in the 100 fly and 100 back.”

Sherwood’s swim and dive team, with its capable core athletes and fast freshmen, is in a prime position to match or exceed previous performances at Metro Champs on February 7 and at the state championships February 21 to finish strong what Nolan describes as “an incredible season so far.”