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Winged Lions Swim Team: Small in Number, Huge on Talent

By Hope Feliciano, Co-Head Coach

Rowland Hall’s Winged Lions swim team had an outstanding season. The team of 13 swimmers competed in six in-season meets against much larger teams, including Juan Diego, East High, and Judge Memorial. The season concluded at the Region XV Championship and at the 3A State Championship at BYU.

Our swimmers pursued excellence with each and every stroke and kick, with each athlete swimming over 100 miles over the course of the season and achieving a personal record in at least one event (if not two, three, or five). Every athlete swam their best when it counted, with a total of 63 seconds dropped from entry time at the region championship meet.

At the region championship, the medalists were:

  • Tessa Bartlett: 200 Medley Relay (third place); 200 Free Relay (third place); 100 Backstroke (third place)
  • Cecilia Hyman: 200 Medley Relay (third place); 200 Free Relay (third place)
  • Ainsley Moore: 200 Medley Relay (third place)
  • Sophie Zheng: 200 Medley Relay (third place); 200 Free Relay (third place); 100 Fly (third place); 50 Free (third place)
  • Sarah Shakib: 200 Free Relay (third place)
  • Liam Boyle: 200 Medley Relay (third place); 200 Free Relay (third place); 50 Free (second place); 100 Free (third place)
  • Thomas Shakib: 200 Medley Relay (third place); 200 Free Relay (third place); 100 Fly (second place); 100 Backstroke (third place)
  • Henry Erickson: 200 Medley Relay (third place); 200 Free Relay (third place)
  • Tyler Lehman: 200 Medley Relay (third place); 200 Free Relay (third place)

Two weeks later, our 3A state-bound group of nine athletes collectively dropped another 52 seconds from entry time. The first day of state presented swimmers with the opportunity to qualify for the final session of the meet on day two; only 32 individual swimmers and 20 relays qualified for prelims, and the top 16 individuals and relays returned the next day. The top eight individuals and top three relays received medals and podium recognition.

We were excited when all our swimmers returned for day two finals, either as relay or individual qualifiers. The season of hard work paid off with huge personal records for almost all athletes at both championship meets. The following athletes received medals for their individual events at state:

  • Tessa Bartlett: 100 Backstroke (seventh place)
  • Tyler Lehman: 100 Backstroke (seventh place)
  • Thomas Shakib: 100 Breaststroke (fifth place)
  • Cecelia Hyman: 100 Backstroke (sixth place); 100 Butterfly (sixth place)
  • Liam Boyle (captain): 50 Freestyle (fifth place); 100 Freestyle (fourth place)

We are so proud of the character and integrity displayed by this team. Their athletic accomplishments were extraordinary. Every individual showed grit and a strong competitive fire throughout the season. Most importantly, every person on this team is truly a great friend to one another and supports each other through illness and injury, in success and in failure. Coach Nick Skorut and I are so proud of this team for who they are and what they stand for.

A special shout-out to seniors Liam Boyle and Maggie Estabrooks, who were recognized with Academic All-Region honors for excellence in the classroom as well as in the water. In addition, several team members were recognized with awards at our end-of-season celebration, including Thomas Shakib and Cecelia Hyman, Most Valuable Swimmers; Henry Erickson and Kendra Larson, Most Improved; Liam Boyle and Ainsley Moore, Coaches Award; and Leo Pickron and Sylvia Twahirwa, Winged Lion Award.

Congratulations to Tessa Bartlett, Liam Boyle, Henry Erickson, Maggie Estabrooks, Cecelia Hyman, Kendra Larson, Tyler Lehman, Ainsley Moore, Leo Pickron, Sarah Shakib, Thomas Shakib, Sylvia Twahirwa, and Sophie Zheng on a fantastic season!

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