Practice for CCS goes swimmingly

As Aragon athletes enter the locker rooms to prepare for afternoon practice, swimmers put on their suits, snap on their goggles, and pull on their swim caps and get ready for a hard day’s swim. The season is coming to an end and the swim team members reflect on the season, and get ready for upcoming CCS finals.

“The season started off a little hectic,” explains coach Fred Farley. “With Aragon’s pool under construction, we were up at CSM and it was hard because of complications of getting people up there after school. However, once we got back at Aragon, things got easier and kids [were] swimming as well as they [could].”

Sophomore Steven Callas says, “I feel like the team as a whole has been putting a lot of effort this season. Despite a rocky start and some bad luck, we are really trying to pick up the pace. The other teams are really good this year so it is a nice challenge.”

One of the team’s biggest challenges this year is their size. “A problem the team as a whole faces, is the number of swimmers on the team,” explains Callas. “We have lost quite a few meets because of it and the number of times that we have outnumbered the other school’s team has been very few this season.” With only a few dual meets to go, the pressure to end the season well is kicked up a notch.

“The season is going well but as we get farther into the season, the teams we swim against like Sequoia and Carlmont get faster and we need to work harder,” explains Farley. One of the lower points of the season was the meet against Burlingame High School. With over 40 varsity swimmers and about 40 frosh/soph, Burlingame took home most of the first places.

The swimmers have to push themselves to their limit to thrive at PALs and CCS.

“Everyone goes to PALs but to go to the finals, you have to make it to the top 16 in the event,” explains Farley. “And CCS is even harder. The qualifying times are extremely tough.”

With a team larger than the previous year, Aragon’s swim team has more of a chance of going farther in competitions. Sophomore Christy Conway says, “I think we are doing better this year compared to last year because there are more people on the team. However, we only have four Frosh/Soph guys and it would have been nice to have more.” Farley agrees. “We have a lot of new younger kids. For some reason, a lot of Frosh/Soph girls joined the team which is great.”

Despite the challenges with size and having the pool redone, Aragon did very well at PALs. Many of the swimmers made CCS.

Senior Kyle Kim qualified for CCS in the 100 breast. His time was 1:05.22. The qualifying time for the event is 1:05.23.

Senior Jillian Oto placed first in the 50 and 100 freestyle which was a big accomplishment for the Varsity Girls team.

Sophomore Zi Quan Lin says, “The season over all has been good but there is always room for improvement. But with lots of dedication and practices, I can tell that we are improving every day.”

“I’m glad I joined swim team and I loved meeting new people who share the same passion as me and with every practice and meet I feel like we become more and more like a family,” explains Freshman MariaClara Plascencia.

As the school year comes to an end, swimmers push themselves at their last meets and at CCS finals this weekend in Santa Clara.