Last week 16 swimmers traveled to George Mason for the state competition

Many goals and dreams were achieved this season for the swim team. Sending a handful of students to states, some of whom went on to place in finals is exactly what the swim program hoped for. From team events to individual events, the upper and underclassmen worked together to represent their school.

Competing in the 200-medley relay, freshmen Jocelyn Nichols and Janika Perezous, sophomore Chale Jacks, and junior Stephanie Dye placed eighth. In the 200-free relay Perezous, Jacks, and Dye along with Kelly Mogensen placed eighth again. Dye also placed 16th in the girls 100 back, and Jacks got 12th in the 200-free medley and 15th in the 100 fly.

The performance Perezous displayed as just a freshman competing at her first high school state meet has caught the attention of many and has her excited for her upcoming years of swim here for the high school team. She placed 10th in the 100-free and and third in the 100 back.

“She is a great teammate both in and out the water; she is nice to everybody and loves this sport with all her heart,” said Jacks.

Working as a team, juniors Ryan Murphy, Isaac Duke, Cameron Lai- Harris and senior Luay Hilmi placed fifth in the 200-medley race and fifth in the 200-free relay. In the 400-free relay sophomore Trent Weidman, Duke, and seniors Max Jensen and Justin Hennessey placed 16th.

“I was happy [when I first realized we were going to states]. I was very excited when I heard the news,” said Weidman.

There were also a couple of individual achievements on the boys side. Lai-Harris getting 13th in the 50-free and 11th in the 100 back. Hilmi, who committed to swim for The University of Pittsburgh this past fall, placed fourth in the 100 fly and sixth in the 100 back.

“[States] was a great experience for the team as a whole. We all swam our best as well as having first timers finaling at the meet,” said Hilmi. “Placing makes me proud to bring back medals for the school.”