The boys’ and girls’ aquatics program dove into their postseason with respectable second place finishes in the District competition on Nov. 1. While many of the athletes were hoping to pull off a win against long-time rival, Lake Highland, the general sentiment following the day was a positive one.
“I am really satisfied with how we performed at Districts,” said captain junior Caroline White . “We had multiple wins and the team as a whole swam either best times or right on their bests.”
Junior George Reuter added that all but two of the team’s swimmers had at least one best time.
Following a successful day at Districts, both teams immediately began to gear up for Regionals. Continued morning and afternoon practice, full body shaving and various team spirit events all created a team-oriented attitude for a largely individual competition.
The main goal for each swimmer was simple: qualify for states. In order to accomplish this in any given event, the athlete must hold one of the fastest 24 times in the State following Regionals.
For some, like freshman Reese Gawronski, Regionals were about revenge.
“I was out touched by just a few tenths of a second [at Districts.] I feel like at regions I could make another big drop and get revenge on the kid who beat me,” Gawronski said.
Again, Trinity found vast success in the Regional meet on Nov. 8. George Reuter broke the 100-yard butterfly record set by his older brother and Trinity Prep alum, Nick Reuter, and now holds the school’s fastest time in the event. The girl’s 200-yard medley posted an automatic All-American time and missed breaking the school record by just fractions of a second.
A great day qualified 10 swimmers, five boys and five girls, individually and multiple relays for the State meet.
The teams would continue their postseason success on Nov. 15 at the State meet. After leaving school early on Friday, the team road-tripped to Stuart, Fl. to inspect the pools and locker rooms so there would be no surprises on race day.
The Saints found themselves shattering school records all day. The girl’s 200-yard medley relay broke the Trinity record by two seconds and posted an All-American time. The girl’s 400-yard freestyle relay placed fourth with an All-American consideration time.
The boys team easily broke the school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay and barely missed the school’s mark in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Sophomore Claire Maiocco had a huge day, swimming her way to third place in the 50-yard freestyle and second place in the 100-yard butterfly, where she re-broke her own school record. In both events she posted All-American times.
Senior Ally Coyne swam her way to thirteenth in the 100-yard breaststroke. Junior White placed sixth in that event and tenth in the 200-yard individual medley. Senior Allie Parent got eleventh in the 100-meter backstroke, where Grace Olivardia got fifteenth. The girl’s team placed sixth overall.
Sophomore Matt Degtyr and junior George Reuter were in the top 16 in their two individual events— the 100-yard butterfly and 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly, respectively.
Senior Jackson Auer made his way to the top eight in 50- and 100-yard freestyle. The boy’s team placed eighth in Florida overall.
Although the team will lose key seniors Ally Coyne, Ally Parent, Jackson Auer, Nicholas McKenzie and Alfred Vinnet, the future of Trinity Prep’s swimming is bright. A strong group of underclassmen boasting school record holders including George Reuter, Caroline White, Matt Degtyr, Reese Gawronski, Grace Olivardia and Claire Maiocco will make sure that Trinity does not miss a stroke.
