On Saturday, the Foothill swim team headed to Cate High School to face off in a tri-school meet against St. Bonaventure High School and Grace Brethren High School. The girls’ swim team won against St. Bonaventure by a score of 82-19, but faced a graceful defeat by Grace Brethren with a close score of 84-60. The boys’ swim team won against St. Bonaventure by a score of 106-33, and defeated Grace Brethren by a score of 87-74.
Some notable performances were by freshmen Lily Armstrong and Jaina Malach. Armstrong finished first in the 200-meter freestyle and the 100-meter freestyle. Malach earned first place in the 200-meter individual medley and claimed second place in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Freshmen Serafina McClain and Chloe Martinez, Armstrong, and Malach finished first in a close match of the 400-meter freestyle relay.
“In the end, the Lady Dragons won the event when Jaina was able to hold off a great final push from the Grace Brethren anchor leg [the fourth swimmer in the relay order],” said Coach Jason York.
Highlights from the boys’ swim team included sophomore Josh Modglin and freshman Richie Brandi. Brandi swam “like a freight train” and came in first in the 500-meter freestyle. Modglin placed first in the 100-meter backstroke and earned an automatic CIF time standard that “would have won CIF last year by two seconds.”
Sophomores Kevin Waechter and Parker Harris, and junior Christian Lewis provided “leadership and depth in various events.”
Waechter earned a second place finished in both the 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle. Harris claimed second place in the 50-meter freestyle and third place in the 100-meter backstroke. Lewis came in fourth place in both the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke.
According to York, competing in three meets in a single week was a challenge considering the amount of practice time lost during spring break.
“This upcoming week, we should have four solid days to train, learn, improve, and then show our progress at a meet against Cate High School on Friday,” he said.
