by Malec Fahmy ’20

 Just two weeks into the swim and dive season, a clear trend has been established with this year’s team: they are talented and willing to work hard. This is exactly what was seen at the team’s first meet, an exhibition against Magruder on December 1.

 Although the full team was not there, the boys’ had six swimmers finish in first place in individual events, including senior Marco Casareto and junior Malec Fahmy who finished first in each of their events. The girls also had four first place finishes in individual events, including by sophomores Taylor Wallace and Gabriella Caponiti.

 “[This season the boys] hope to continue success from last year in the division and finish in top half” said Coach Brendan Lees, “Graduating just a few girls, the goal of the girls team is to win another division, metro, regional, and state titles.”

 After a very accomplished season last year, both boys’ and girls’ swim and dive will have to bounce back from the loss of many key graduating seniors who helped lead them to their successes last season. While the girls will still be among one of the top teams in the state, the boys will have to perform at their best to be able to compete this season in a difficult Division 2 and 4A/3A Region.

 This year the girls will be returning Metros champions senior Kaitlin Gravell (200 IM) and junior Amanda Wenhold (100 free) along with State champion senior Sophia Ryan (200 free). On the boys side, seniors Casareto and Jamison Crow will help lead the boys back to a regionals title they have won two out of the last three seasons.

 Despite the talent lost from last year’s squad, the girls welcome a very good freshmen class, including swimmers Cheyenne Chen, Emma Dorsey, and Katy Wade, who will all provide added talent to an already impressive girls team. The boys will be welcoming World Junior Diving fourth-place finalist Max Weinrich to accompany sophomore Michael Parker as they will look to go 1-2 at Metros and States this year.

 “After graduating a lot of boys the hope is that some boys will step up and fill those roles,” Lees said. He added about the girls, “We have a very large senior class of girls that have been a part of two Metro and State titles and is a great senior leadership that can contribute to another successful season.”