Swim teams win Mission League, go for CIF-SS titles

By Eden Conner

The boys and girls swimming and diving teams completed their seasons 7-1 and 7-0, respectively, winning Mission League and sending multiple team members to compete in CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) prelims and finals. Assistant Sports Editor Christopher Mo ’24 was the only swimmer who qualified for CIF State competition and set the school record in the 500 freestyle at the meet.

Mo competed in CIF-SS and had one of the top 40 fastest times in the 500 freestyle in California, qualifying for the state championship. Mo swam a 4:30.26 at CIF State, setting the school record in the event previously held by Adam Copses ’19 at 4:31.21. Mo said that the team’s intense pre-season training prepared him to break the record.

“Our team packs in a lot of aerobic training and a lot of pace work, which allows us to hold a certain pace for a longer time,” Mo said. “The training definitely helped me, especially in the 500, where 20 laps of the pool is very crucial for being able to keep pace.”

The girls relay team qualified for CIF-SS finals, placing seventh in the 200 medley relay and second in the 200 freestyle relay. Lily Neumann ’24 placed third in the 50yard freestyle and fifth in the 100-yard freestyle at CIF State prelims. Allison Nguyen ’23 qualified for CIF State Prelims in the 50-yard freestyle and fly and Claire McLean ’23 placed 17th in the 100-yard free and 20th in the 50-yard free. Ethan Wang ’23 swam the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle at the

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CIF-SS finals. Wang said that the CIF Finals experience was unlike any meet he’d swam in before.

“CIF [is] the grand finale of the season for those who qualified, so it’s a chance for you and your teammates to show off all that you’ve been working towards,” Wang said. “This also means that everybody there is competing at the top of their form, so swimming at CIF also means that you’ll be meeting and racing some of the fastest people in California.”

In CIF-SS prelims, the boys team placed 19th in the 200free relay and 19th in the 400free relay, just one place shy of qualifying for finals. Nicholas Barner ’24 placed 28th in the 50-yard freestyle and 32nd in the 100-yard backstroke in CIF-SS prelims. Barner said he hopes to make big improvements in his swimming leading up to his senior season.

“I’m hoping to improve physically and technically this upcoming season,” Barner said. “It will be hard, but with time and dedication both on and off the pool deck, I believe these goals are attainable.”