By: Lucy Panicacci

Local News Editor

In May, the LGHS Swim and Dive team completed their accomplished spring season. The varsity teams closed out with leagues, CCS, and CIF State championships.

At the league’s meet, the girls swim team placed second overall behind Palo Alto, and the boys swim team ended third overall. Several LGHS swimmers showcased top swims at the event. Senior Karly Frangieh finished second in both the 100 Free and 50 Free. Junior Ava Taylor achieved second in the 100 Breast and 500 Free. Sophomore Kiana Koechlin got third in the 200 Individual Medley and fifth in the 100 Fly. For the boys’ league meet, sophomore Mathijs Dirven placed first overall for the 100 Free and second in the 50 Free. Junior Vanessa Lee commented, “My favorite meet this year would be leagues because that’s where we have [the whole team] together and the relays.” Lee added, “This year we have really strong leaders, so I think that’s what makes our team so united.” Sophomore Ryan Madsen agreed with the lively environment of leagues, stating, “Leagues is a super exciting environment because the whole team is there — all the girls and boys [junior varsity] and varsity. I set a PR at leagues for the 500 because I had a bunch of people there cheering me on. It’s super awesome to be there with the entire team.”

Prior to the CCS championship, the boys CCS qualifiers participated in a team tradition by shaving their heads. Sophomore Eduardo Lasso explained, “Our idea was that all the CCS qualifiers would shave their heads as a cultural thing, so all the teammates do it together. We did that at our coach’s house, which [was] really fun after a team brunch.” With their new aerodynamic haircuts, seven LG boys swimmers headed into CCS. At the meet, senior Ewan Lonergan achieved an impressive second place in the 100 Breast with a time of 55.91 seconds. Lasso, who qualified for the 50 Free and 100 Backstroke, reflected on the meet, stating, “At the end of a long season, it’s a culmination of hard work, and it really pays off to get the cut.” 

Lee explained the girls’ preparation for CCS, sharing, “We have team bonding, [and] we would do visualization before races.” On the girls side, Frangieh ended her last CCS meet strong. She finished second in the 100 and 50 Free, setting school records in both events with the times of 50.63 seconds in the 100 Free and 23.40 seconds in the 50 Free. Her time for the 100 Free broke the previous school record she set last year. With their accomplished times, both Lonergan and Frangieh advanced to the CIF championships. In addition, the boys 200 and 400 Free relays went to CIF. 

With LG swimmers achieving top times and developing a supportive team spirit, LGHS Swim and Dive concluded an impressive 2024 season.

(Sources: Los Gatan, Swimcloud)