The Patriots swim team has been making quite a splash this season, with a string of impressive performances that have set the tone for a successful season.
Led by head coach Nobutaka Tan, the team has already racked up wins in numerous races. Recently, the varsity swim team participated in the 60th Woodson Invitational at Pine Crest Saturday Sept. 28, which included 16 teams from Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County. The girls team finished in eighth place and the boys finished in sixth.
The team also won their home meet October 2 against Archbishop McCarthy and Calvary Christian. See below for the list of scores and individual winners.
Team unity has been a driving force behind the Patriots’ success. The support they show for each other—whether cheering on a teammate during a race or offering encouragement during tough practices—has made all the difference as they take on highly competitive teams.
“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,” sophomore swimmer Liliana Novak said.
Working together is crucial in a sport with so many different events and multiple relay competitions. For example, sophomore Madison Aguero is a sprinter. “I swim the 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle. I am a butterflyer as well as a sprinter, so these are among my best events,” Arguro said. On the other hand, sophomore Rose Seniuk does longer events. “I swim the 500 free and the 200 free. Last season we needed someone to do it, so my coach asked me to, and I actually started to like it,” Seniuk said.
Swimming requires lots of mental toughness as it combines physical intensity with endurance. Training sessions are long, and when racing, swimmers must stay focused and calm under pressure.
“Most of the time when I swim, I think about my technique or pacing. There are some times where I get sidetracked and think of music or even my homework. Sometimes it can be very difficult to stay motivated,” freshman Makayla Montenegro said. “Also, I love thinking about how I will be able to compete with some of my friends and new people at the bigger meets. It is important to always make sure to focus on your own health as well.”
As the season progresses, the swimmers are keeping their eyes on the prize: the state championship.
“I am looking forward to the state meet the most. This meet is where the best high school swimmers in Florida compete, and I enjoy racing them while representing our school. I also love the energy that comes with states; it is tense, but ebullient and incomparable to any other competition I have been to,” Novak said.
Catch the swim team at their next meet Oct. 9 at Pine Crest.
Results from the 60th Woodson Invitational at Pine Crest Saturday, Sept. 28:
Total of 16 seams from Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County.
Girls team – 8th place
Boys team – 6th place
Following individuals and relays made top 12 finals at the meet:
200 Freestyle relay
Girls 9th – Mia Guerrero, Makayla Montenegro, Madison Aguero, Katlyn Rhett
Boys 5th – Stepan Vandysh, Alessandro Pereira, Gabriel Landron, Rafael Landron
200 Freestyle – Rose Seniuk 11th
200 Individual medley – Madison Aguero 12th / Alessandro Pereira 2nd / Stepan Vandysh 8th
50 Freestyle – Liliana Novak 5th / Rafael Landron 3rd
100 Freestyle – Liliana Novak 6th / Rafael Landron 7th
500 Freestyle – Makayla Montenegro 12th / Alessandro Pereira 3rd
200 Freestyle relay
Girls 5th – Liliana Novak, Madison Aguero, Audrey Prado, Rose Seniuk
Boys 9th – Sean Vittanakorn, David Caulkins, Rodion Znaieshev, Liam Garcia – Sierra
100 Backstroke – Mia Guerrero 8th / Rose Seniuk 12th
100 Breaststroke – Makayla Montenegro 12th / Stepan Vandysh 11th
400 Freestyle relay
Girls 8th – Liliana Novak, Katlyn Rhett, Mia Guerrero, Rose Seniuk
Boys 5th – Rafael Landron, Gabriel Landron, Alessandro Pereira, Stepan Vandysh
Results from the home meet against Archbishop McCarthy and Calvary Christian Oct. 2:
Team scores:
Girls American Heritage School 143 – Calvary Christian 103
American Heritage School 155 – Archbishop McCarthy 91
Boys American Heritage School 157 – Calvary Christian 105
American Heritage School 154.50 – Archbishop McCarthy 107.50
Individual winners:
Alessandro Pereira – 200 Individual medley and 500 Freestyle
Rafael Landron – 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle (Tie)
Liliana Novak – 100 Butterfly and 100 Breaststroke
Gabriel Landron – 100 Butterfly
Mia Guerrero – 100 Backstroke
Stepan Vandysh – 100 Backstroke
Relay winners – swimmers swept all relay events.
Girls
200 Medley Relay – Mia Guerrero, Katlyn Rhett, Madison Aguero, Isabella Dadios-Perry
200 Freestyle relay – Liliana Novak, Katlyn Rhett, Audrey Prado, Rose Seniuk
400 Freestyle Relay – Liliana Novak, Madison Aguero, Mia Guerrero, Rose Seniuk
Boys
200 Medley Relay – Stepan Vandysh, Alessandro Pereira, Gabriel Landron, Rafael Landron
200 Freestyle Relay – Sean Vittanakorn, David Caulkins, Rodion Znaieshev, Liam Garcia-Sierra
400 Freestyle Relay – Rafael Landron, Gabriel Landron, Alessandro Pereira, Stepan Vandysh
The swim team seniors (from left to right) Haleh Afshani, Mia Guerrero, Gabriel Landron, Alessandro Pereira, Audrey Prado, Sean Vittanakorn, David Caulkins and Mila Bond prepare for their events at the Pine Crest meet. The seniors have grown as swimmers and people on this team over the past few years. “My biggest strength would be my experience and new mentality compared to what it used to be these last 3 years,” Pereira said. (Photo/Nobutaka Tan)
Although a tough and mentally demanding sport, swimming has beautiful moments too, such as this double rainbow behind the pool at Ransom Everglades. (Photo/Nesibe Kalb-Karakaya)
