Riding a wave of early-season success, Poly’s boys and girls varsity swimming team have quickly established themselves as formidable forces in the pool. Over the past three years, the boys team has dominated the Prep League and aims to carry that momentum forward in their pursuit of another league title. Senior Justin Lee stated, “It’s been a pretty underrepresented sport despite sending a team to CIF State last year, being Division 2, and being one of the more successful teams at Poly.”
Building on past triumphs, Poly’s relay medley and 4×500 freestyle teams have qualified for CIF competition. Competing in Division 2 this year, the girls team has continued to excel, particularly in relays, thanks to a strong group of sprinters, a key strength in these events.
On March 15, the swimming team kicked off their season at Mt. San Antonio College, establishing a strong foundation for the year ahead. While the team competed in three relay events, individual races were also a key highlight. Senior Oliver Mann participated in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke, earning a spot in the A final for the 50-meter freestyle. Similarly, Lee raced for the 50-meter freestyle as well as the 100-meter breaststroke. Senior co-captain Julia Pisano competed in the A relay for the 50-meter freestyle and also made it to the B final in the 100-meter freestyle. The range of events these athletes participated in speaks to their skill and adaptability, underscoring their dedication to the sport.
As one of the smallest athletic teams at Poly, the swimming team faces the ongoing challenge of recruiting new members—an issue largely beyond their control. While other schools may have 50 swimmers, Poly’s team consists of just 30. Though events often depend on team size, what they lack in numbers, they more than make up for with dedication, grit, and discipline. “In terms of our weaknesses, I would say our biggest weakness is our numbers. We definitely have one of the smaller teams in the league, but we are working to be fast enough so that our numbers do not hurt us,” said Pisano.
Head Coach Sean Grab stated, “In terms of winning team events, especially when it comes to league championships and team championships, so as a smaller school, I think we always face the challenge of having less swimmers than some of the schools.”
Despite often being characterized as an individual sport, the team has cultivated an environment of communal support. Uplifting the team as a whole, current seniors have imparted their own knowledge to mentor underclassmen, seamlessly filling in the gaps of absent seniors from last year.
Freshman Lauren Poplock shared, “Everyone is very welcoming and friendly and I have found it quite easy to make friends on the team. Everyone helps each other out during practice, and there is a strong sense of camaraderie.”
Staring into the water with success on the horizon, Poly’s swim is sure to make a splash wherever they go with a mix of hope and determination.