Boys Swimming “Pushing Each Other to Do Our Best”
Q. McMillian
Boys relay teams dive in during the meet against Campolindo on Wednesday.
On a cloudy afternoon at College Park High School, the Las Lomas swim team gathered in a large circle on a side of the pool.
The captains proclaim words of encouragement for the races ahead, and then lead the team in enthusiastic cheers. Chanting of “Knights Altoids” fills the bleachers. No one actually knows what the cheer means, but it’s become a tradition.
The boys swim team is now in full swing with high prospects of NCS competitors representing Las Lomas this year.
So far, the Knights have won four meets against Acalanes, Berean, Concord High, and College Park and have lost two meets against San Ramon Valley and Miramonte.
Some of this year’s top male varsity swimmers, Gennady Sytnik, Mark Katz, and Ewan Bradley, have made great improvements in races such as the 100 free and the 200 free.
The top 200 free time for the Knights belongs to Sytnik at 1:49.80 and the top 100 time belongs to Bradley at 50.41.
Unlike other sports, swimming is not always a team effort, even though the score is an accumulation of swimmer’s points.
Individually, swimming races gets you further along in the season.
“There are two goals in swimming: your personal goals and then your team goals,” said senior team captain Patrick Donoghue.
Team dynamics are incredibly crucial. Without the right amount of support and a good atmosphere, it’s difficult to perform well.
“The meets are a large part of the social aspect of the team,” said Bradley. “They allow the swimmers to get to know the team and feel apart of the team.”
The whole point of a race is to go for the win, not only for yourself but for Las Lomas.
“It’s who’s going to get first, and who is going to improve the most,” said senior varsity John Mulligan.
For many people in competitive sports, like swimming, improving upon yourself is key.
“Swimming isn’t necessarily against some- one else. It’s more of a sport where you’re against yourself,” said Mulligan.
“We practice as a team and do the same set on the same interval pushing each other to do our best,” said Bradley.
Just like in sports where you are competing with several other teammates, swimming, in many ways, is a social, emotional, and physical group effort, and, of course, everyone has their own reasons for loving this wonderful sport.
Four-year Las Lomas swimmer Kyle Cappo said his favorite part of swimming is that “it’s a good workout and also the social aspect, hanging out with your friends and you’re benefiting your body at the same time.”
