Jackson-Reed swimming has closed yet another successful year with a DCIAA championship under their belt, demonstrating their consistent dominance and skill.
Over the years, the Tiger Sharks have built a culture of winning. The program strives to train the best swim team in the DCIAA, with rigorous early morning practices and intense commitment.
The swimmers dedication this year paid off as the Tigers won their second consecutive DCIAA championship. Junior team captain Eddie Pangelinan noted they “haven’t lost a DC meet as long as [he’s] been here.” After the DCIAA championship last year, the team turned their focus towards the following season, striving to continue their winning tradition despite losing several graduated talented swimmers.
This year, the Tiger Sharks exceeded expectations and won every DCIAA meet they participated in. Junior Elsa McIntyre acknowledged while they won, the success didn’t come easy: “Our team really had to step up to fill in their shoes, we definitely knew it wouldn’t be easy.” In the final meet of the season, the team showed up to defend their title as DCIAA champions, a final test to their newly structured team, capping off their undefeated season.
This abundance of victory has led to a unique culture on the team. Athletes on the swim team aren’t out to argue over every mistake they make, rather, they focus on the positive environment that makes the team what it is. The shared experience of being on a winning team, communally putting your effort into something greater, is something not everyone has; these teammates shared success breeds friendships that last far outside of the pool.
Pangelinan reflected on all the friends he’s made over his years as a Tiger Shark as the team is “more connected than ever before.” With the season at a close, teammates return to their lives away from the pool, keeping in mind the importance of the next season, as well as the setbacks they will face.
As the school year’s end comes nearer, yet another group of seniors will graduate, leaving the Tiger Sharks to regroup and figure out what the team will look like next year. The transition at the beginning of a new season is always a rocky task however, the team is more confident than ever.
“Next year, I think we’ll be able to keep winning, it’s not like the seniors carry the team,” sophomore Quinn Trieu said. With a successful end to the year, the team will look to keep sharpening their skills, protecting a legacy of JR swimming dominance that has been long fought to achieve over the years. •
