Varsity swim continues win streak, splashes into Archer history
The varsity swim team poses with their championship trophy. Some swimmers will continue on to compete in the CIF meet on May 11. Image courtesy of Summer de Vera.
As the clock struck noon, the varsity swim team grabbed their swim bags and departed from Archer. The team was on their way to make school history.
The undefeated Archer varsity swim team set a school record on May 4 by winning the high school Liberty League Championship for the fourth consecutive year, more consecutive championships than any previous varsity swim team.
“Winning…was so fun. It was kind of expected this year, but we still have been working really hard and trying to get our personal best times, ” captain Claire Bardin ’18 said. “Seeing all our work pay off was such a good feeling, and it was so fun to be with my team in that moment.”
Although the high school team has won four consecutive times, this winning streak extends into winning the middle school championship, too. Three of the team’s four seniors — Bardin, Summer de Vera and Saskia Wong-Smith — have won the league championship every year since starting at Archer in sixth grade.
“I’m happy to know that we can say we’ve won [a league championship] seven years in a row,” de Vera said. “We are just trying to make Archer proud. It’s not really about us. It’s more about bringing pride to Archer.”
The league finals meet was also Senior Night, the final home game of the regular season, which includes a ceremony to honor each senior.
“We have this unicorn mascot called Fantasia, and all the juniors gave us mini ones to keep with us forever,” de Vera said. “It was really cute. I started to cry because it hit me that this was my last school meet, and it was pretty emotional.”
To celebrate Senior Night, varsity swim team member Juliet Youssef ’19 also created a 14-minute video dedicated to the seniors in which she interviewed the other girls on the team and the coaches.
“The team wouldn’t be the same without the seniors,” Youssef said. “On my worst days, they could make me laugh out loud. They are the best role models and friends that anyone could ask for. Their dedication and enthusiasm will definitely be missed.”
Although this was the final meet of the season, eight swimmers will continue to compete in the CIF meet: Bardin, de Vera, Hannah Kim ’20, Poppy Nye ’21, Hannah Park ’19, Ella Solomon ’19, Wong-Smith and Gracey Wyles ’21.
The CIF-SS meet finals will take place in Riverside on May 11 .
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Archer girls stand on the block waiting for their race to begin. The varsity swim team made Archer history by winning the Liberty League Championships for a record four consecutive years. Image courtesy of Julie Bardin.
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Gracie Wyles ’21 competes during the prelims at UCLA. Archer practices at UCLA. Image courtesy of Julie Bardin
Photo credit: Julie Bardin'
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Archer girls compete in a relay. Archer competes in the Liberty League. Image courtesy of Julie Bardin.
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The varsity swim team cheers on teammates. The final meet was held at UCLA, Archer’s home pool. Image courtesy of Julie Bardin.
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Nelly Rouzroch joined the Oracle Staff during the 2015 year and became the new Multimedia Editor in 2016. She attended Ignite Journalism University in...
