Freshman Sydney Turner competes at a Country Day dual meet on April 18 at Jesuit High School.
The swim team has participated in six dual meets held at Jesuit High School. The team’s last meet was on April 26.
Based upon the times per individual swimmer, swimmers qualify for the San Joaquin section championships, May 10-12. Currently, six of seven athletes (senior Amalie Fackenthal, junior Joe Zales, sophomore Rebecca Waterson, and freshmen Sydney Turner, Athena Lin and Layla MoheyEldin) have qualified.
At section championships, each swimmer will compete in two individual events with the addition of a relay depending on gender.
Coach’s comment (per coach Brian Nabeta): “With more swimmers wanting to do well and practicing at their individual clubs, it has made the season good so far.
“Because of the freshman girls (Lin, MoheyEldin and Turner), it’s easier to put together faster relay teams.
“Our goal is to win the Division III section championships.
“Hopefully, with results from this year, we can attract more swimmers and enlarge the team.”
Player’s perspective (per Waterson): “We are supportive of each other, and we always are in a pretty good mood at meets.
“The girls’ relay for the IM (Individual Medley) and freestyle have been doing (a) fantastic (job).”
Player’s perspective (per Turner): “(My goal at section championships is) to make finals in both of my events (100 backstroke and 200 IM).
“It is important to make (finals at) section championships because it helps score points for your school, and colleges will scout you more.”
Player’s perspective (per Fackenthal): “I really am proud to see our swim team has grown, starting from the relay we had freshman year that qualified for section championships to this relay. I hope to be in the top final of section championships and even be a top contender.
“Swimming has finally become a recognized sport at Country Day.
“My personal goal is to do the best I can at states this summer while being untapered (not resting for a meet). But for the team, I hope to have our relay possibly qualify for states as well. It would make Country Day history, and I would be so proud.”
Originally published in the May 8 edition of the Octagon.
—By Keshav Anand
