by Selene Ashewood ‘22

Junior Lucas Quiroga swims the 100 meter fly against Quince Orchard

The swim and dive team got off to a strong start to their season. After winning a scrimmage meet against Blake and Paint Branch and beating Wheaton, a Covid-19 concern and school-wide safety measures paused the winning streak until January 6. The team doesn’t plan to hold back now that they are allowed back in the water.

Last time this co-ed team had an in-person season was the winter of 2020, which coincidentally was the year they moved down a division–likely due to the boys on the team not being on par with the girls’ results. That mismatch of skill actually seemed to even out this year with a “huge injection of youth on our boys side,” which includes “eight new swimmers that will contribute immediately on the [their] side and some that will challenge all of MCPS for top seed in their events,” said Coach Ryan Burnsky.

This season, the team is focused on readjusting to the in-person structure rather than going back to Division 1. The swim and dive team as a whole seems stronger this year with Burnsky saying many swimmers on this large team practice both through Sherwood and through club swimming at Rockville Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC).

This was why the December 11 meet against Wheaton was so sparse since the RMSC Holiday Championships fell on the same day, meaning many of the strongest swimmers on the team were absent. Yet Sherwood still pulled through and won with boys scoring 115-69 and girls winning 120-66.

The team returned to competitive swimming on January 8 against Damascus in which the boys team won by 15 points while the girls lost 103-83. Sherwood swam again on January 15 in a meet against Quince Orchard. The girls came up just short, losing 98-88, while the boys continued their winning streak with a 92-82 team result. The meet features a number of great races, especially at the end.
Whatever the results from meets, Burnsky is optimistic as long as the season continues. “I am excited to get the season back on track and I know the athletes are as well,” said Burnsky. “The athletes have put a lot of work and dedication into making this season happen. So hopefully we will be able to [operate] safely ,and close out strong.”