The graduating class of the boys swim team had their final hurrah at the senior night meet on February 6 with well over a dozen swimmers – one of the largest groups in recent times. The team faced against Highland Park and West was a winner all around.
The meet began with diving and continued with a heartfelt ceremony to celebrate the end of an era for our Class of 2026 seniors. The deck was filled not only with swimmers, but with the families of seniors as well. They all lined up to partake in a procession, including a brief speech and time in the spotlight for each individual swimmer. The walls were adorned with posters displaying each senior.
After the celebration, the meet continued with an all-senior 200 Yard Medley Relay. Michael Chan, Nick Dao, Ethan Chung and Ilyas Ait El Mahjoub secured a second-place finish with a time of 1:39.51. Afterwards, Chung set two pool records, one in the 50 free and the other in the 100 fly. With the addition of these two records, Chung’s name would remain on the record board a staggering 17 times. To wrap up the meet, the excitement peaked with another all-senior relay, this time the 400 Yard Freestyle. Chan, Chung, Cole Sebastian and Dao finished with a time of 3:18.82, taking first place.
Head coach Dan Vander Jeugdt believes that the meet was a success with multiple first placements for the team.
“Senior night went really well, I think all the seniors had at least a first place finish on the JV and Varsity level,” Vander Jeugdt said. “We did break two pool records, Ethan Chung broke the record for the 50 Free and 100 Fly, and overall we did great as a team. The meet was definitely a sucess.”
Junior Marshall Dotlich reflects on how the meet’s success is leading up to more important meets at the end of the season.
“We did great individually, and our relay splits are looking great,” Dotlich said. “This meet was a great send-off as now we’re tapering down for our big championships such as sectionals and state. We are ready!”
Junior Ananda Solsol concurred with the others, by sharing his approval for the meet, and his hope that senior night will go just as well when his time comes.
“I genuinely enjoyed the meet, it was one of the best we’ve had this season,” Solsol said. “I’m going to be a senior next year so I sincerely hope next year’s senior night will be just as good as this one. Overall, I’d give it a 10/10.”
