Boys’ swim and dive, 7-1, competed with fierce passion and determination throughout the season, earning second place at Sectionals and third place at States with 10 school records broken.
The team had a strong start to the season with a win against Needham Thursday, Dec. 12, earning a score of 98-85.
“It was our best season in years,” said counselor Patrick Manning, head coach. “The way they all developed over the season was incredibly impressive and the results showed off their hard work.”
The team’s success was furthered as the Tigers competed against Newton South, Dec. 16, and Wellesley High, Dec. 19, scoring 60-39 and 96-89 respectively.
Led by Manning and seniors Clarence de Medeiros, Cody Wong, and Jan Shek, captains, as well as standout star senior Quinn Caputo, the team continued to display valiance and perseverance through its meets.
According to Manning, a highlight of the season was the team’s close meet against Brookline. “We started off trailing and struggling but the team really came back,” said Manning. “We were able to win the Bay State Conference because of the confidence we gained from winning that meet.”
Another important factor of the team’s newfound success, according to sophomore Seb Huculak, was Caputo’s fast times and unwavering determination. Breaking and re-breaking four separate school records, Caputo’s skills were undeniable, according to Huculak. Caputo, who will attend Cornell for swimming in the fall, scored a time of 1:51.30 for the 200 yard individual medley, a 50.55 for the 100 yard butterfly, a 4:45.36 for the 500 yard freestyle, and a 50.92 for the 100 yard backstroke.
The Tigers’ goals for the future include building a well-rounded team that brings more attention to diving. According to de Medeiros, the team will benefit from more divers because solid dives bring in large amounts of points. “I know how hard it is to start a sport like diving which isn’t as popular but I encourage people to try out more,” he added.
According to Manning, the team’s captains exhibited great leadership. “Jan has been a leader in all the small ways and getting kids motivated. Cody Wong has been on multiple record-setting relay teams. He’s been a key part of this team this year. Whatever we ask of him, he’s been able to do it. This is his second year as a captain and kids really look up to him,” said Manning.
Despite the Tigers’ unmatched achievements, Shek said, “It wasn’t about the victories. Everyone tried their best and many of the swimmers posted their best times.”
