Captain Noemi Holczer ’15 emerges from the effulgent blue pool after the 100 yard breaststroke event. She pulls off her goggles aggressively, chlorinated water trickling from her cap: “Did I PR?; what was my time?” she gasps.

On April 30, the Archer Varsity Swim Team accumulated 474 points from five relay races and 18 individual races at Liberty League Finals at UCLA.

The total points put the team in first place in the Liberty League for the first time in Archer history, nearly 149 points ahead of second place Marshall Fundamental High School.

“This meet was more than a physical win for us,” Head Coach Stephanie Ferri said. “It marks a turning point for Archer Swimming. The unity of the team this year was something palpable.”

“The energy, enthusiasm and excitement filled the walls of UCLA’s Student Activities Center and everyone from the other teams to the officials felt it and commented to me about it,” she said.

Captains Camila Gazcon ’15, Liv Hogan ’15 and Holczer, all committed members of the swim team throughout their high school career, expressed their excitement for the team’s accomplishments.

“It was really sad for the seniors, but also it was a great way to end the season,” Holczer said.

“We had a meet full of personal bests, and it was really great way to end the season; we are really excited to go out undefeated in the Liberty League,” Hogan said. “As a captain, I am proud of my freshman girls for developing through the season.”

“Shout out to the freshmen!” she exclaimed.

Freshmen standouts Summer DeVera ’18 and Saskia Wong-Smith ’18 helped their Archer Middle School Swim team win three Pacific Basin League championships; their success has continued through their ninth grade season.

“Wong-Smith qualified for six CIF individual events, broke the school and league record in the butterfly and backstroke, while DeVera qualified for four CIF individual events and set the school record in the 200 IM,” Kristen Benjamin wrote in an email to the Archer community.

The meet also marked the team’s annual senior night.

“I am very proud,” previous swim team member Madison Florian ’15 said. “I am also kind of sad because I was unable to be there with them during the season, but I am very proud to see everything they have accomplished.”

Florian could not swim her senior year due to a shoulder injury.

“The seniors were all really happy, including me, because we all got our flowers and speeches from all the younger swimmers,” Holczer said.

“They have worked so hard and just swam their little hearts out at that meet,” avid swim team fan Briney Harris ’15 said.