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McLean’s girls’ and boys’ swim and dive teams delivered commanding victories over Wakefield on Jan. 16 in one of their final dual meets of the season.
The girls won 220-89, while the boys prevailed 224-81. McLean swimmers maintained a lively atmosphere throughout the meet, cheering for teammates from the pool deck as several athletes recorded personal-best performances.
Freshman Nora Bartkowski, who placed third in the 200-yard freestyle, said encouragement from coaches and upperclassmen helped build excitement before the competition.
“It was really good to see all the girls’ work pay off, and the boys worked really hard too,” Bartkowski said.
The girls entered the meet after edging Langley by three points during senior night the previous week.
“Overall, the season is going great. It’s been really fun,” senior Marjorie Coffman said. “We have a really strong team of girls.”
For the boys, the Wakefield meet offered an opportunity to secure a decisive win before the season’s final stretch. Senior Bryan Seo said disappointing results in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays had motivated him to attend both school and club practices consistently.
With the district competition approaching, McLean’s swimmers are spending as much time as possible in the pool. Seo said the teams are also strengthening their bond by gathering in the water to cheer, supporting one another and holding team dinners.
“We’re building team spirit every week,” he said.