In the annual Smoky Hill Invitational swim meet, the girls’ swim and dive team made a big splash, soaring past both individual and team expectations. For the first time ever, the girls brought home the 1st place trophy, beating out 12 other teams, including Cherry Creek, a 4-time state champion, and Heritage High School, whom of which has also taken home multiple state titles as well.
This win came as a shock to the team, as they had a smaller roster compared to previous years. Coming in as runner-up last year, this victory meant a great deal to senior Ella Drackulich. “I think we won this meet because we have a team that works well together and is able to pick themselves back up. We are very supportive,” said Drackulich. Drackulich placed 3rd in the 100 breaststroke, scoring critical points for the Cougars.
Other notable races included the 200 Medley Relay, where the girl’s placed 2nd behind Cherry Creek. Senior Ava Zadigian claimed victory in the 100 backstroke, and sophomore JJ Siah earned her first state cut in the 100 breaststroke.
The Cougars currently hold a 3-1 league record and are yet to compete against Smoky Hill and Mullen. Adjusting to a new coach and learning new training methods this year has been challenging but ultimately rewarding for the team. Senior Olivia Jisa acknowledged the team’s dedication: “Everyone on the team has been showing up to practices and putting in countless hours of training. There is a lot of willpower and hard work that goes into this sport, and everyone is doing such a good job showing that,” said Jisa.
The team continues to excel, driven by their incredible support for one another. Junior Giavelle Salsig remarked, “This team has become my family. The support they show, whether it’s behind the blocks or in practice, keeps me going, and I think that’s ultimately why we won this meet.”
