SKHS Rebel Swim has had a season with multiple ups and downs. The four captains, Amanda Graham, Adam Littlefield, Caitlyn Mahoney and Dan Murray, aided the Rebel swim team to place in the Championships on Saturday, February 13. The Lady Rebels placed 10th overall and the boys placed 12th.
The weekend prior to the State Championships was the Division II meet, where swimmers competed to qualify for a spot in States. Each team was only allowed a certain number of swimmers to compete in each event, leaving more than half of the team to anxiously cheer on the selectees.
The end result left the girls’ team disappointed and the boys’ proud. The boys swim team came in 3rd place overall whereas the girls’ received 4th. Ironically, the Lady Rebels were beat out by the three teams they lost to in meets throughout the season: Narragansett, Cranston East and Westerly.
Senior Calyx Duff said, “[the season] was shorter this year than normal, but it was a good season. Everyone worked their hardest even if we ran into some problems during meets, but it was a lot of fun.”
The girls had a competitive season, leaving with five wins and three losses. The boys were able to achieve an almost undefeated season, winning four out of five meets.
Though the teams have suffered disappointment, there are many upsides to their season. At Divisions, numerous swimmers from both the boys and girls teams placed in the top three, earning medals.
Dan Murray said, “I thought with our small amount of guys on team, we accomplished a lot. Everyone worked hard to get to where we are today.”
For the Lady Rebels, Caitlyn Mahoney, Amanda Graham, Jess Graham and Liz Congdon received second place in the 200 medley relay.
In the 200 free relay, Hayley Feaster, Mahoney, and the Graham twins placed third.
Mahoney continued her winning streak, placing second in the 50 free and third in the 100 free.
Congdon also won received a lone medal, taking third in the 100 butterfly.
The boys team had just as much success as the girls.
Dan Murray received first in the 100 back and third in the 100 free, though he lucked out in one of his best events, the 500 free.
Adam Littlefield placed third in the 100 free.
Evan Spath, another SKHS senior, received third in the 50 free race and first in the 100 butterfly.
In the medley relay as well as the 200 free relay teams both received third while the 400 free relay team walked away with second.
Mahoney said, “I was really happy with our performance at states, both individually and as a team. Our 200 free relay team was able to medal. We got tenth place overall which is better than any other year that i’ve been on the team.”
The success at Divisions was soon minimized by the time the State’s arrived. Mahoney walked away with the only individual medal for the girls’ team, receiving eight place in the 50 free; the 200 free relay team also received medal, placing in eighth. Spath and Murray both received medals in the top eighth place medals as well. Spath came in fourth in the 100 fly and Murray came in eighth in the 100 backstroke.
Mahoney also said,” We were able to [get this far] with only five girls [competing at state's]!”
This upcoming weekend, on Saturday February 27, the New England Championships will be held at the University of New Hampshire.
The girls’ team will be swimming the 200 medled relay as well as the 200 free relay. Mahoney will compete in the 50 freestyle and the 100 back. Liz Congdon will compete in the 200 IM. The only boys that will be competing in the NE Championships are Murray, Spath, Littlefield, and Jeremy Swan.
Shawna James, a junior and new addition to the swim team said, “[Everything] was hard work but it was so much fun! I made lots of new friends joining the swim team, and i plan to continue next year as a senior.”