The Heritage swim team made a splash at the FHSAA Class 2A Swimming and Diving State Championships, diving into fierce competition Nov. 16 at the Florida Aquatic Swimming and Training Complex in Ocala, Fla. With high hopes and determination, they faced off against the best in the state.
For the swimmers, states were one of the most anticipated meets of the year. “I [look] forward the most to states at the end of the swimming season. It’s really fun to be able to travel with the team and also an honor to represent Heritage at a high level meet like this one,” sophomore Madison Aguero said.
To get to this point, the team has been putting in the hours since summer. “We swim [for] two hours everyday for events as fast as 30 seconds. During the summer, we practiced twice a day, and I also had some weight training on the side. It is a [huge] commitment that requires discipline and dedication, but it helps us all grow stronger as an athlete and as a person,” freshman Makayla Montenegro said.
The girls’ side had many successful scores. On the relay side, the 200-meter Medley with senior Mia Guerrero, Montenegro, Aguero and sophomore Liliana Novak placed 15th; the 200-meter Freestyle with Novak, junior Katlyn Rhett, sophomore Isabella Dadios-Perry and sophomore Rose Seniuk placed seventh; and the 400-meter Freestyle with Novak, Rhett, Dadios-Perry and Seniuk placed ninth.
Novak placed fifth in the 50-meter Freestyle, adding to the list of top placings in the State competition.
As for the boys, the only relay they participated in was the 400-meter Freestyle, with senior Gabriel Landron, junior Rafael Landron, sophomore Stepan Vandysh and senior Alessandro Pereira.
Pereira, who also placed fourth in both the 500-meter Freestyle and 200-meter Individual Medley, is a key proponent of this team and committed to continue swimming at the college level at Johns Hopkins University. “What keeps me motivated in this very sacrificial sport is knowing what my goals are and that there are people who are supporting me— especially my family and coaches,” Pereira said.
Vandysh also placed 15th in the 100-meter Breaststroke and 13th in the 200 Individual Medley. Rafael Landron placed 14th in the 50-meter Freestyle and 15th in the 100-meter Freestyle.
The girls finished 14th out of 41 scored teams and the boys finished 13th out of 43 score teams. Final scores:
Girls 200 Medley Relay – Mia Guerrero, Makayla Montenegro, Madison Aguero, Liliana Novak (15th)
Alessandro Pereira – 200 Individual Medley (4th)
Stepan Vandysh – 200 Individual Medley (13th)
Liliana Novak – 50 Freestyle (5th)
Rafael Landron – 50 Freestyle (14th)
Rafael Landron – 100 Freestyle (15th)
Alessandro Pereita – 500 Freestyle (4th)
Girls 200 Freestyle Relay – Liliana Novak, Katlyn Rhett, Isabella Dadios-Perry, Rose Seniuk (7th)
Stepan Vandysh – 100 Breaststroke (15th)
Girls 400 Freestyle Relay – Liliana Novak, Katlyn Rhett, Isabella Dadios-Perry, Rose Seniuk (9th)
Boys 400 Freestyle Relay – Rafael Landron, Gabriel Landron, Stepan Vandysh, Alessandro Pereira (8th)
Team standing
Girls – 14th out of 41 scored teams
Boys – 13th out of 43 scored teams
In a sport that requires an immense amount of mental strength, it’s important to have a strong support system to be successful. “I think that our team’s biggest strength is our support for one another. We have a great group of swimmers and everyone is dependable and supportive,” Novak said. (Photos/Sean Vittanakorn)
